By Jon Johnson
EDEN—Late Tuesday afternoon, multiple local and state fire agencies collaborated to battle a quick-moving wildfire in the Hot Springs area, north of Pima and east of Fort Thomas.
According to Pima Fire Chief Terry Earp, despite several recreational vehicles and travel trailers being directly in the path of the fire, only one tent, hidden in some trees, was destroyed, along with a small wooden bridge. Earp said that all signs pointed to the fire having been started by a farmer burning a ditch bank that got out of hand.
Locals and travelers on Highway 70 first noticed the fire shortly after 4 p.m., but firefighters weren’t called out until about 5:09 p.m.
By then, a large, uncontrolled brush fire was moving fast through thick vegetation toward travel trailers, and a voluntary evacuation was initiated.
Pima sent five trucks and was assisted by Thatcher with two trucks, and Fort Thomas sent two as well.
Firefighters with the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management were dispatched at about 6:30 p.m.; they battled through the evening to save the residences and eventually stopped the fire’s progression at about 11:10 p.m. There were no injuries reported.
According to Tiffany Davila, a Public Affairs Officer with the Department of Forestry and Fire Management, about 25 personnel, including a Fort Grant Hot Shot Crew and engine, are currently assigned to the fire.
The Hot Shot Crew will continue to monitor the fire on Wednesday and mop up any erupting hot spots. The fire was mapped at 19 acres.
