VIDEO: The hot, dry weather and remote, rough terrains are having major impacts on fire crews battling wildfires this year. Wildland firefighters are working to contain a wildfire burning north of Globe in the Tonto National Forest. โThe Billy Fire, since day one itโs been burning in rugged terrain. Weโve had trouble getting ground resources in there,โ said Matthew Wilcox, the public information officer for the Central West Zone Type 3 Incident Management Team.
Over the past couple of days, the Billy Fire has exploded in size to nearly 15,500 acres on Monday, with 12% containment. The wildfire has sparked evacuations for two communities: Murphy Ranch and Ellison Ranch. Wilcox, who is on the ground at the fire, spoke with Arizonaโs Family about the challenges fire crews are facing. โThe past week and a half, we havenโt really had any sort of that normal seasonal monsoon moisture that we usually see out of August in Arizona, so itโs been super-hot and dry,โ he said.
The weather and location of wildfires in Arizona are playing a role in battling the flames this year. Wilcox said the terrain is making it difficult for crews to get to key areas, and the recent lack of rainy weather and itโs a recipe for the flames to spread. โJust about every location around the state, from southern Arizona to central Arizona to northern Arizona, there is below-average rainfall. No one is getting average rainfall,โ said First Alert chief meteorologist Royal Norman. Norman added, when wildfires grow big enough, they can create their own weather. โWe could have a wind gauge 2 miles down the road and it could be registering nothing, but right up next to the fire, itโs making weather. Itโs drawing in weather constantly. Itโs like a thunderstorm or a firestorm, it wants oxygen, so it pulls it in,โ he said.
What could help improve Arizonaโs fire danger is the monsoon rain, but the lack of it could have the opposite effect down the line. โItโs going to have an impact if we donโt get monsoon; the fire season will continue until we get snow,โ Norman said. While this summer hasnโt been as hot as last summer, there has been a lack of rain. If thereโs a lack of snowfall this winter, Arizona could be left with even drier forests across the state next year.
