Southern Arizona officials order evacuations in Bighorn Fire area
Jun 11, 2020, 11:09 AM | Updated: 12:27 pm
(Inciweb Photo)
PHOENIX – Authorities in southern Arizona issued evacuation orders Thursday as firefighters continue to battle the Bighorn Fire burning near Tucson.
The Pima County Sheriff’s Office and the the Office of Emergency Management said in an alert a back burn was going to be conducted in the morning as a protective measure to save homes and property.
The fire has been burning in the Catalina Mountains since June 5, sparked by a lightning strike in the Coronado National Forest. It has eaten through 3,277 acres as of Wednesday.
A cooling shelter was being made available at Canyon del Oro High School, 25 W. Calle Concordia in Oro Valley.
County officials had warned residents Wednesday night the fire posed a “significant danger” and they should consider voluntarily leaving the area.
About 215 personnel had been assigned to the blaze.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.