Smoke on the horizon: A map of wildfires burning in Arizona
Jul 7, 2017, 9:18 AM | Updated: 9:19 am
(Kelly Presnell /Arizona Daily Star via AP)
(Kelly Presnell /Arizona Daily Star via AP)
PHOENIX — As temperatures heat up and Arizona hunkers down for summer, the state is readying for another busy season of wildfires.
At one point, nearly 30 wildfires burned in the state. Hundreds have been reported statewide this year.
.@azstateforestry says AZ has now topped a quarter of a million acres burned in 2017. 250,486 on 1223 fires. @AZMorningNews @KTAR923
— Jim Cross (@Crossfire923) July 7, 2017
Thousands of firefighters were battling wildfires throughout the state — many of them ignited by lightning or people — as gusty winds and parched vegetation fueled the flames, said Tiffany Davila, a spokeswoman for the state forestry department.
Thankfully, no one has yet been seriously injured this season.
Gov. Doug Ducey declared a state of emergency last month that would free up funds for more firefighting resources.
But keeping track of all the wildfires in the state can be complicated. The blazes constantly change and evolve on a daily basis and stretch from southern Arizona to nearly the Grand Canyon up north.
To help keep track of the fires, we’ve created the map below. It shows only active fires in Arizona, meaning those that have been put out have been removed. It also does not include prescribed burns.
The map is updated several times daily with information from InciWeb, which compiles its information from the U.S. Forest Service.
For more information on specific fires — such as evacuation orders and breaking news — stick with both KTAR.com and KTAR News 92.3 FM all summer long.
