Name: Wildfire in Arizona, April 8 to 14, 2021
Start: 2021-04-08T11:00
End: 2021-04-14T12:00
Location: Arizona

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 1 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

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The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 1

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS TWC wrote it up.

The human caused Salt Fire started on April 8th on San Carlos Apache Tribe lands near Bylas in northwest Graham County. On the first day, the fire burned over 2000 acres in the Gila River bed having been spread by winds gusting to more than 30 mph. Two homes were evacuated in Bylas as a precaution, but the only structures damaged were two abandoned corrals. The fire was contained April 14th, but not before it consumed 4425 acres and came within a mile of Fort Thomas. Fire suppression costs tallied $350,000.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Tucson, AZ wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Apr 8, 2:39 AM MST, 8 hours 21 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Apr 8, 2:39 AM MST, 8 hours 21 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
239 AM MST Thu Apr 8 2021

.SYNOPSIS...A warm and dry weather pattern will continue into early
next week with some afternoon breezes each afternoon. The strongest
winds are expected today as a passing weather system will result in
some enhancement to the winds.

&&

.DISCUSSION...Ensemble means keep the main storm track north of the
area through at least early to mid next week with a dry west to
northwesterly flow aloft over AZ. Another weather system passing
well to the north will result in some enhanced wind speeds again
this afternoon. The wind will be the strongest east of Tucson where
a Red Flag Warning has been posted from 1pm to 8pm mst today.
Otherwise, expect above normal high temperatures to continue through
the weekend along with daily afternoon breeziness. Thereafter,
ensembles favored a system deepening over the Intermountain West
which might impact our weather the second half of next week.
However, the ensemble cluster analysis favored dry and breezy
conditions across SE AZ with the bulk of the precipitation chances
remaining well north of the area. Also, would expect a slight drop
in daytime temperatures with lower height and thickness values over
the region.

&&

.AVIATION...Valid through 09/12Z.
SKC or FEW clouds AOA 20k ft MSL much of the period. Sfc winds
WLY/NWLY this afternoon and early evening 15-22 kts with gusts of 30-
35 kts. The strongest winds will be east of KTUS and KOLS. At other
times expect wind speeds 5-10 kts. Aviation discussion not updated
for TAF amendments.

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...Expect dry conditions into next week along with
breezy winds each afternoon and early evening. Winds will be
strongest today with 20-ft wind speeds 15-25 mph and gusts to around
35 mph. Areas east of Tucson will be on the higher end of this
range, and a Red Flag Warning is in effect from 1 pm to 8 pm MST.
Otherwise expect wind speeds of 10-15 mph each afternoon. Minimum RH
values will continue to be low with most lower elevation locales in
the single digits and mountains locales in the low teens. Better
overnight recoveries are anticipated early next week. Temperatures
will remain much above normal with only a couple degree variation
day to day.

&&

.TWC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
   Red Flag Warning from 1 PM to 8 PM MST today for AZZ151-152-154.

&&

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The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

1 wildfire. Local standard time, as filed.

Wildfire, Upper Gila River and Aravaipa Valleys

When: April 8, 11:00 AM MST to April 14, 12:00 PM MST
Where: Upper Gila River and Aravaipa Valleys forecast zone
Reported by: Tribal Official
Coordinates: 33.074, -109.563 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The human caused Salt Fire started on April 8th on San Carlos Apache Tribe lands near Bylas in northwest Graham County. On the first day, the fire burned over 2000 acres in the Gila River bed having been spread by winds gusting to more than 30 mph. Two homes were evacuated in Bylas as a precaution, but the only structures damaged were two abandoned corrals. The fire was contained April 14th, but not before it consumed 4425 acres and came within a mile of Fort Thomas. Fire suppression costs tallied $350,000.

What these are

Wildfire: A fire burning in wildland vegetation, with its acreage and damage where known.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Arizona in 2021 Every state in 2021 This day in weather history Warnings in Arizona, April 2021

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 952992.