Numerous residents in fire-stricken Arizona communities have been allowed to return to their homes in the past week. While the majority of homeowners in the area affected by the Wallow Fire returned to find their residences intact, residents in the area affected by the Monument Fire are baffled as to why some homes were unaffected when their vehicles and neighbors’ houses were consumed by flames.

Monument Fire

The Monument Fire has burned more than 29,000 acres but was listed at being 59 percent contained as of Friday morning. Crews conducted successful burnout operations and fire lines – which spared numerous homes – held overnight.

About 60 homes, 42 out-buildings, six businesses and numerous vehicles have burned in the fire that began June 12 in the Coronado National Memorial near the Mexico border southeast of Sierra Vista. As residents returned to the area, they were shocked to see some homes inexplicably untouched while others in the same area were total losses, according to resident interviews.

There is roughly 1,176 fire personnel fighting the blaze, including 26 crews, 86 engines, two bulldozers, seven helicopters and three air tankers. Calmer winds have helped firefighters gain more control of the blaze, but it is still listed as having extreme growth potential due to the dry conditions.

Wallow Fire

Firefighters continued to gain the upper hand on Arizona’s largest-ever wildfire, and containment was listed at 67 percent as of Friday morning. The fire has burned about 535,000 acres to date.

While the dry conditions enable continued fire activity, a new threat of flooding will arise when expected monsoon rains come.

The vast burned areas of the White Mountains will cause several communities and other areas to be vulnerable to flash floods and debris flows. Mudslides and debris flows could occur even if the area only experiences moderate intensity rains for 10 to 15 minutes. Some streams and rivers are likely to see the largest flows in decades if traditional amounts of precipitation occur.

Horseshoe Two

The Horseshoe Two fire southeast of Willcox has burned about 223,000 acres since it began May 8. The fire was listed as being 95 percent contained as of Friday morning.

The cost to fight the various wildfires in Arizona this season has soared to more than $100 million.