Paddy Creek Fire (Arizona)

Burning for 17 days across the timberlands of Apache County, the Paddy Creek Fire is maintaining an active status 22 miles southeast of White River, Arizona. The fire has grown at an approximate rate of 39 acres per day, reaching 63 percent containment after charring 668 acres of federal land managed by the BIA. Minimal and smoldering fire behavior is currently observed within the grass and understory fuel beds.

A Type 4 Incident management team consisting of 51 personnel is assigned to oversee operations for the naturally caused fire, with total costs reaching $800,000.

This incident unfolds during the region's typical fire season, which runs from June to October. Nationally, wildfire activity remains below historical norms, with 3,172,718 hectares burned across the country so far in 2026—marking a 42 percent decrease compared to the two-decade average.