Contributed Photo: The Jackson Fire was listed at 70 percent containment as of Saturday morning.
By Jon Johnson
SANTA TERESA WILDERNESS AND ARAVAIPA CANYON – Welcome evening rains Thursday night doused two lightning-sparked fires that were burning in the Santa Teresa Mountains and on Bureau of Land Management land north of Aravaipa Canyon.
The 2,945-acre Jackson Fire, which began Saturday, July 11 near Jackson Peak in the Santa Teresa Mountains, was determined to be 70 percent contained after a soaking rain Thursday night. According to BLM Public Information Officer June Lowery, the fire line was dormant Friday except for one small smoke from a rocky outcrop Friday afternoon. Crews then worked to secure the perimeter on the northwest segment and began suppression repair. The fire was last listed at 70 percent containment, with further suppression repair scheduled for the coming days as the remaining resources will continue to monitor and conduct suppression repair as necessary.
The Horse Fire ignited Thursday afternoon along Horse Camp Canyon, which is a north/south tributary of Aravaipa Creek. The fire grew to 228 acres by the time crews arrived to begin suppression efforts.
Helicopters performed water and retardant drops and a team of firefighters rappelled into the area to help fight the fire.
The Thursday evening rain that followed aided in putting the fire out, and by Friday morning the blaze was listed at 50 percent containment and the firefighters who rappelled in were removed by the end of the day.
According to Lowery, resources will monitor the remote fire scar for the next several days to ensure it remains secure.
