The Polles Fire is burning in the Mazatzal Wilderness on top of the Polles Mesa, approximately 11 miles west of Payson, AZ and 6 miles south of Pine-Strawberry, AZ. The fire started on 7/3 as the result of lightning from isolated thunderstorms in the area. The fire is only accessible by helicopter and 2 hotshot crews were shuttled into the fire by helicopter on 7/3.  High sustained winds out of the southwest and low humidity in the fire area caused increased fire behavior on the afternoon of 7/4 pushing the fire north and northeast. Airtankers and helicopters supported the hotshot crews on the fireline through the day. Fire behavior has decreased significantly as the sun set and the humidity has increased going into the evening. Some may smell  smoke and smoke may be visible in the morning through the communities of Pine-Strawberry, Payson and possibly as far west as Camp Verde. A Type 3 Incident Management Team is assisting the local unit with logistics and planning support....

On June 5, 2020 at 10:22PM a lightning strike started the Bighorn Fire in the Catalina Mountains northwest of Tucson, Arizona on the Coronado National Forest.    Dry, windy conditions pushed the fire closer to communities and forced evacuations.  The Southwest Area Incident Management Team 4, led by Carl Schwope, assumed command of the Bighorn Fire on Sunday, July 5, 2020 at 6 a.m. The fire is in steep and rugged terrain in the Pusch Ridge Wilderness and extends east to Redington Road. The fire remains approximately ½ mile north of Catalina Foothills, 3 miles south of Oracle and 3 miles east of Saddlebrooke. Due to the fire, Catalina State Park and several popular trails in the area are closed including Romero Canyon, Pima Canyon, Finger Rock, Pontatoc, Pontatoc Ridge and Linda Vista. The vegetation in the area consists of tall grass, brush, dormant brush and hardwood slash.  Improving weather conditions and increased moisture has greatly slowed fire activity, but...