Arizona Wildfires
About wildfires in Arizona
Arizona faces intense wildfire activity across its deserts, grasslands, and high-country pine forests. The state's fire season builds through the hot, dry spring and peaks before the summer monsoon arrives, when lightning and human ignitions can turn cured grass and ponderosa pine into fast-moving fires.
Some of the largest fires in state history — including the 2011 Wallow Fire and the 2002 Rodeo-Chediski Fire — burned hundreds of thousands of acres of forest in the eastern highlands. The 2013 Yarnell Hill Fire killed 19 Granite Mountain Hotshots, one of the deadliest days in U.S. wildland firefighting history.
Our satellite tracker monitors every fire hotspot detected across Arizona in real time, from the Sonoran Desert to the Mogollon Rim and the forests around Flagstaff.
Arizona wildfire season
Arizona's wildfire season runs from spring into early summer, typically peaking in May and June — the hot, dry, windy stretch before the summer monsoon. Once monsoon storms arrive in July, humidity rises and large-fire risk usually eases, though early-season lightning can still spark remote fires.
The desert lowlands burn fast when winter rains leave behind a crop of dried grasses, while the high country — the Mogollon Rim, White Mountains, and forests near Flagstaff — carries the state's biggest timber fires.
Notable wildfires in history
- 2013 Yarnell Hill Fire
A wind-driven fire near Prescott killed 19 members of the Granite Mountain Hotshots — one of the deadliest single days in U.S. wildland firefighting history.
- 2011 Wallow Fire
The largest wildfire in Arizona history burned more than 538,000 acres across the White Mountains and into New Mexico, forcing thousands to evacuate.
- 2002 Rodeo-Chediski Fire
This massive fire scorched over 460,000 acres on the Mogollon Rim and destroyed hundreds of homes, long a benchmark for extreme Arizona fire behavior.
- 2020 Bush Fire
Burning northeast of Phoenix in the Tonto National Forest, the Bush Fire grew to nearly 200,000 acres, one of the largest in recent state history.
Main causes & risk factors
- Hot, dry, windy conditions in the pre-monsoon spring
- Abundant fine grasses that cure and ignite easily in the desert
- Lightning strikes on the Mogollon Rim and high country
- Dense, overgrown ponderosa pine forests after decades of fire suppression
- Human ignitions from campfires, vehicles, and equipment
Safety & preparedness
- Check the fire danger and any Stage 1-2 fire restrictions before visiting forests
- Never drive or park on dry grass, and secure tow chains that can throw sparks
- Sign up for county emergency alerts and know your evacuation routes
- Keep a go bag and clear defensible space around homes in the pines
- Report smoke or flames right away by calling 911
Frequently asked questions
When is wildfire season in Arizona?
It runs from spring into early summer and usually peaks in May and June, before the July monsoon raises humidity and eases large-fire risk.
What was the largest wildfire in Arizona history?
The 2011 Wallow Fire burned more than 538,000 acres across the White Mountains, making it the largest in state history.
Where do most Arizona wildfires happen?
The high country along the Mogollon Rim, the White Mountains, and forests near Flagstaff see the biggest timber fires, while desert grasslands burn fast in dry, windy springs.
Where does this map's fire data come from?
Every hotspot comes from NASA's FIRMS system, using VIIRS satellites that detect active fires several times a day.
Is this Arizona wildfire map free?
Yes — it's completely free and needs no sign-up. You can track active fires across Arizona and the world in real time.