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Highlights:  Good progress was made by firefighters on the Wildcat Fire on Sunday night and Monday. Containment increased from 0% to 23% during the period. The fire size increased minimally to 14,283 acres due to the efforts of firefighters. A cold front passing through the region also helped containment efforts. Grasses that the firefighters are encountering are so high they are hard to walk through. Higher grass could challenge them while conducting suppression activities. 

Operations:  Although the fire was less intense Monday, firefighters were able to make progress, however, temperatures are predicted to rise to near 90 degrees on Tuesday with relative humidity falling to nearly 10%. This combination along with possible 20 mile per hour wind gusts in the afternoon may increase the chances of the fire increasing in intensity.

Weather: Hot, windy, and dry conditions will persist for the next several days. South winds are expected to gust up to 20 miles per hour during the afternoon. This could make fire suppression efforts more difficult. The winds are forecasted to lessen in the evening.

Closures: A larger closure order is in effect for the protection of public health and safety due to firefighting operations.Bartlett Lake Road remains closed. The public is requested to stay away from the area. This is for the safety of the public and firefighters. The closure order is available on the Tonto National Forest website by going to: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/tonto/alerts-notices/?aid=87558

Safety: The health and safety of firefighters and the public are always the highest priority. Please avoid the area while crews conduct fire suppression. Citizens are urged to sign up for the Maricopa County Emergency Notification System. The system allows you to be quickly notified of emergency evacuations. To learn more about the Arizona Emergency Information Network visit: https://ein.az.gov/ready-set-go. Firefighting aircraft and drones are a dangerous combination. Drones in the area could lead to accidents or slow down wildfire suppression operations. If you fly…we can’t.

Smoke: Smoke from the Wildcat Fire has recently decreased, however it may be visible in the surrounding areas for many days. Smoke will drift to the north and east due to prevailing winds. Individuals who are sensitive to smoke and people with heart disease are encouraged to take precautionary measures. An interactive smoke map at https://fire.airnow.gov/ allows you to zoom into your area to see the latest smoke conditions.

Location: East of the Desert Mountain Community and Tonto Hills Development; West of Bartlett Lake Reservoir in the Cave Creek Ranger District.

Start Date: May 18, 2024

Size: Approximately 14,283 acres

Percent Contained: 23%

Cause: Under investigation.

Vegetation: The fire is burning grass and brush.

Resources: 9 crews, 21 fire engines, 4 helicopters, and 4 water tenders.

Number of Personnel Assigned: 318

Information Links and Contacts:

Tonto National Forest https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/tonto/fire

InciWeb  https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/aztnf-wildcat-fire

Fire email 2024.wildcat@firenet.gov    Information Phone (480) 608-2181