Tinder Fire Latest: 79 percent Contained, Residents Return Home

PAYSON, AZ – After eight days, residents are home and firefighters have a solid handle on the Tinder Fire. As of Sunday night, it was 79 percent contained.

At one point, nearly 1,000 homes had been evacuated.

The fire, which broke out just over one week ago, has devoured 16,309 acres. It was started by an illegal campfire that had been abandoned.

Officials say that as of Monday morning, the fire has been downgraded to a Type 3 local incident from a Type 1 regional incident.

Since the fire started on April 27, 87 structures have been lost to the fire. Of those, 33 were primary residences. (Get Phoenix Patch's daily newsletter and real-time news alerts. Or, find your local Patch here and subscribe).

There are still nearly 300 fire personnel on scene.

While the fire is mostly contained, officials warn that things are not yet in the clear.

"The remaining hot spots still have the potential to spread within the fire's perimeter as warmer and drier conditions continue over the next few days," they said at a briefing Sunday night.

The ferocity and growth of the fire has officials concerned about it means for the upcoming fire season.

"I have to keep reminding myself it's onlyApril, one official said last week.

On Friday, Coconino County imposed Stage 2 fire restrictions – no outdoor burning at all. That usually doesn't happen until June.

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Photo via US Forest Service, Coconio National Forest.