Human-Caused Oak Tree Fire Burns 2,000 Acres In Southern Arizona

Published: Thursday, May 21, 2015 - 2:16pm
Updated: Thursday, May 21, 2015 - 3:43pm
(Image via National Wildfire Coordinating Group InciWeb)
The Oak Tree Fire is burning in grass, oak, pinyon pine and juniper along State Highway 83 about 10 miles north of Sonoita, Arizona.

The Oak Tree Brush fire burning 10 miles north of Sonoita in Southern Arizona has already burned 2,000 acres and is 20 percent contained.

Michelle Fidler is a public information officer with the National Park Service. She said good progress is being made, but there are still concerns.

"We do have concerns with the increasing winds, we may still see some heat within the interior, so our firefighters are going to be out there again today working to monitor, patrol and strengthen our fire-lines to help secure the fire and make sure we’re able to fully suppress it," she said.

The nearest structures are a few miles northeast of the fire. Fidler said crews have conducted burnout operations to help protect them. The fire is human caused and currently under investigation.