Photo Courtesy Kelly Presnell/Arizona Daily Star: This was the scene as the Bighorn Fire broke onto the southern slopes of the Santa Catalina Mountains and burned above a pair of homes in the foothills just west of the Finger Rock Trailhead in Tucson on June 10. To see more photos of the fire click here.
Staff Reports
SANTA CATALINA MOUNTAINS – The June 5 lightning-caused Bighorn Fire in the Santa Catalina Mountains surrounding Tucson continues to burn and send smoke into the Gila Valley.
As of Wednesday, the fire was listed at 118,370 acres with 54 percent containment. There have been seven minor injuries because of the fire and it has cost $36.5 million to fight to date.
On Tuesday, firefighters were busy with a 50-acre spot fire that crossed Redington Road on Monday as well as holding another 3-acre spot fire near Radio Ridge.
According to a release from the Northern Rockies Incident Management Team in charge of handling the fire, workers will focus on structure protection between Summerhaven and Willow Canyon on Wednesday, as well as continue to contain the 3-acre spot fire. Crews will also hold and improve fire lines around the perimeter of the main blaze.
The fire has caused closures to Sabino Canyon, Bear Canyon, Catalina State Park, Cascabel Road at the Cochise County/Pima County line and Catalina Highway. It has also caused several evacuations with more set in the “Ready” phase.
