This article is a summary of the 2022 Arizona wildfire season, comprising the series of significant wildfires that burned in the U.S. state of Arizona during the calendar year 2022. According to statistics published by the Southwest Coordination Center (an interagency government organization providing logistical and other support for wildland fire incidents), a total of 1,263 fires burned a total of 143,601 acres (58,113 hectares) in Arizona in 2022.[1]: 6
| 2022 Arizona wildfires | |
|---|---|
 Plumes of smoke from the Crooks Fire seen from Prescott, Arizona, on April 24, 2022 | |
| Statistics | |
| Total fires | 1,263 |
| Total area | 143,601 acres (58,113 hectares) |
| Impacts | |
| Deaths | 3 |
| Non-fatal injuries | 6 |
| Structures destroyed | 700 |
| Damage | Unknown |
| Season | |
← 2021
2023 → | |
On 20 April 2022, the Tunnel Fire, the biggest incident of the year in Arizona, burned thousands of acres north of Flagstaff. This included the entirety of Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument. More than 700 homeowners were forced to evacuate, and at least 30 structures were destroyed. A state of emergency was also declared.[2][3]
List of wildfires
editThe following is a list of fires that burned more than 1,000 acres (400 ha), produced significant structural damage or casualties, or were otherwise notable.
| Name | County | Acres | Start date | Containment date | Notes | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tunnel Fire | Coconino | 19,088 | April 17, 2022 | June 3, 2022 | Undetermined cause | [4] |
| Crooks Fire | Yavapai | 9,402 | April 18, 2022 | June 27, 2022 | Undetermined cause. The fire started 11 miles (18 km) south of Prescott. It was 96% contained on May 25 but, due to inaccessible terrain, it took until June 27 to contain the remaining 4%. | [5][6][7][8] |
| Presumido Peak Fire | Pima | 2,591 | March 26, 2022 | April 3, 2022 | Human-caused. The National Centers for Environmental Information documented that over $800,000 (2022 USD) was spent to extinguish the fire. | [9][10] |
References
edit- ^ Southwest Area Annual Report: 2022 Fire Year (PDF) (Report). Southwest Coordination Center. March 16, 2023. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 13, 2023. Retrieved August 3, 2023.
- ^ Healy, Jack (20 April 2022). "Arizona Wildfires Seize on Chaotic Winds and Parched Forests". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 21 April 2022. Retrieved 21 April 2022.
- ^ "'Wall of fire' sends residents of more than 700 homes fleeing in Arizona". The Guardian. 21 April 2022. Archived from the original on 21 April 2022. Retrieved 21 April 2022.
- ^ "Inciweb - Tunnel Fire". Inciweb - Incident Information System. Archived from the original on 2022-04-29. Retrieved 2022-04-29.
- ^
- National Centers for Environmental Information (July 2022). "Crooks Fire April 2022". Storm Event Database. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
- National Centers for Environmental Information (August 2022). "Crooks Fire May 2022". Storm Event Database. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
- National Centers for Environmental Information (September 2022). "Crooks Fire June 2022". Storm Event Database. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
- ^ "Wildfire update, Tuesday, May 3, 2022: Crooks Fire containment grows, many evacuations lifted, Tunnel Fire close to full containment". KNAU. 3 May 2022. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
- ^ "Crooks Fire burns near Prescott". AZCentral. The Arizona Republic. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
- ^ "Inciweb - Crooks Fire". Inciweb - Incident Information System. Archived from the original on 2022-04-29. Retrieved 2022-04-29.
- ^ "Inciweb - Presumido Peak Fire". Inciweb - Incident Information System. Archived from the original on 29 April 2022. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
- ^ National Centers for Environmental Information (2022). "Arizona Event Report: Presumido Peak Fire". Storm Event Database. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Archived from the original on 3 August 2023. Retrieved 3 August 2023.