Ariz. Gov. Doug Ducey and fire officials announced Monday (March 22) that the upcoming wildfire season is expected to be similar to 2020, which was reported as the second-worst wildfire season in Arizona, according to AZ Central.
“We have more vegetation on the ground this year that can act as a fuel for wildfires, so we’re already seeing a heightened risk to our communities,” Ducey said in a news conference Monday.
Last year, 2,520 wildfires burned nearly 1 million acres across state, federal, and tribal lands and was one of the worst fire seasons in a decade, according to the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management. More than 80% of the fires were human-caused, but fire officials say vegetation overgrowth, an ongoing drought, and lack of rain during the monsoon season also contributed to the increase in fires.
The Bush Fire became the state’s fifth-largest fire after it burned 193,000 acres in Tonto National Forest.
Department of Forestry Fire Management Officer John Truett said Monday that there is a “very severe potential” for wildland fires and rapid-fire spread across the state this year.
Arizona’s wildfire season started early this year with several fires that burned more than 500 acres, Truett said. This month, the Punkin Fire forced the evacuation of 100 people and also closed a state route, Ducey emphasized.
“It’s going to be very important for the public to do their due diligence and prevention, watching their outdoor activities,” Truett said. “It’s going to be extremely dry. It won’t take much to get ignition source going and get that fired up and spread across the landscape.”
Recently, weather service and agriculture officials warned of increased wildfires in addition to potential water use cutbacks and damage to wheat crops in California and the Southwest due to an expanding drought.
