Heavy smoke over a desert brush fire

Wildfire

Wildfire is a natural part of a desert ecosystem, but it becomes problematic when it impacts people or destroys habitat. Wildfires can happen any month in Arizona, but most wildfires occur March through June. Wildfires can be initiated by natural events, such as lightning, or by human events, such as campfires, downed power lines or parking a car over dry brush. Monsoon thunderstorms can initiate wildfires if there is lightning with limited precipitation (sometimes called “dry lightning”).

A photograph of a well-developed pyrocumulus cloud produced by a bushfire in the Gila River Valley southwest of Phoenix, Arizona. The charred trail left by the fire front can be seen in the background behind the Sierra Estrella. This picture was taken from a Piper Warrior at 5500 feet over Rainbow Valley in 2008 (CC BY 3.0)

National Interagency Fire Center monthly/seasonal outlook

View the National Interagency Fire Center monthly national significant wildland fire outlook.

Significant fire potential

Monthly outlooks