Bighorn Fire: 81,702 Acres Burned, 33% Contained On Thursday

TUCSON, AZ — The Bighorn Fire near Tucson has grown to encompass 81,702 acres as of Thursday, officials said. It remains 33 percent contained.

On Thursday, the Coronado National Forest Santa Clarita Ranger District expanded closures in the area of the fire. The forest is now closed at the Forest boundary to the south and east up to the northeast corner of the Sabino Canyon Recreation Area.

The closure extends northeast at the Forest boundary to Sabino Creek, then north to the Arizona Trail. From there, the boundary extends northwest to the Romer Trail junction and northwest to Catalina State Park. A map of the closure can be seen online.

According to the U.S. Forest Service, a total of 1,072 personnel have worked to extinguish the fire, and seven minor injuries have been incurred.

Hot and dry weather is expected to continue through Friday, and increasing winds of 15 to 20 miles per hour are possible from Thursday afternoon through Friday.

The Forest Service said on Thursday, crews in the Summerhaven area are working to mop up and hold containment lines and protect structures in the area.

Crews are also working to shore up the fireline at Catalina Highway near Spencer Peak and Spencer Canyon.

According to the Forest Service, firefighters will be close at hand while fuel south from Biosphere 2 is allowed to burn off, and the fireline at Samaniego Ridge will be monitored.

The Forest Service also said crews will be on the lookout for contingency line opportunities east of the fire by Davis Spring Road while helicopters will drop buckets over Sabino Canyon.

South of Oracle, firefighters will work to hold and improve the fireline while an initial attack group stands by to extinguish new fires.

Crews are expected to continue working the fire in the Catalina Foothills for the next several days. Those traveling through the area are asked to drive with caution and keep roads clear for emergency vehicles passing through.

The following areas are under "GO," or evacuation, orders:

• Mt. Bigelow & Lower Soldier HOA
• Community of Summerhaven
• Willow Canyon
• Lower Catalina Highway/Lower Mt. Lemmon Communities from Organization Ridge Road to South Willow Canyon

These regions are under "SET - Be Alert" orders:

• Community of Oracle
• Portions of East Golder Ranch
• Catalina Foothills between Alvernon Way and Sabino Canyon Road, north of Skyline Drive
• Peppersauce Canyon to Highjinks Road and Campo Bonito

Lastly, these areas are under "READY - Prepare Now" orders in case the fire spreads rapidly.

• Oro Valley area from Catalina State Park south to Magee Road
• Catalina foothills areas from First Avenue to Alvernon Way

Evacuation notices are posted online at the Bighorn Fire and Pima County websites.

Residents and travelers should also note that the Coronado National Forest, Sabino and Bear
Canyons and Catalina State Park are closed. Catalina highway is closed to the public at mile zero, and Oracle Control Road is closed. Real time closure updates can be found online, and a map of closed roadways and geographic areas is also available.

Residents are encouraged to sign up for emergency alerts through Pima County or through the Office of Emergency Management.