Arizona, 2021

Wildfire in Arizona, May 25 to 29, 2021

May 25 to 29, 2021 · NWS TWC · 1 event in 1 county or zone

The human caused Warren Fire started May 25 in the Chiricahua Mountains of southeast Cochise County. The wildfire grew to 1400 acres by May 29 in hot and dry conditions.

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 Warren Fire started May 25 in the Chiricahua Mountains of southeast Cochise County. The wildfire grew to 1400 acres by May 29 in hot and dry conditions. No fire growth was experienced after this date, but the fire was not officially contained until June 5. Fire suppression costs tallied over $3 million.

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 May 25, 2:32 AM MST, 1 hour 28 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 25, 2:32 AM MST, 1 hour 28 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
232 AM MST Tue May 25 2021

.SYNOPSIS...Temperatures will continue to rise over the next few
days, reaching near or above normals late this week. Winds will
remain light through the end of the work week then increase this
weekend with no precipitation expected.

&&

.DISCUSSION...Plenty of sunshine today through some high clouds
passing through with high temperatures peaking 3-5 degrees higher
than yesterday. That will put us right about normal for late May and
we will hold that through Thursday. Then highs will bump up another
2-3 degrees Friday and Saturday where we may nip 100 again at the
Tucson Airport either or both of those days.

Winds will be rather light through the workweek for a change, however
an approaching trough will result in a bit more of a breeze over the
weekend with temperatures trending downward a bit Sunday into
Tuesday.

&&

.AVIATION...Valid through 26/12Z.
Cloud cover gradually increases through the morning into the
afternoon becoming SCT-BKN above 20k ft MSL. Light and variable
surface winds settle SWLY/WLY by afternoon mainly less than 10 kts
with occasional gusts to 20 kts. Winds return to light and variable
during the evening. Aviation discussion not updated for TAF
amendments.

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...A very dry air mass remains over the region with
afternoon valley humidities in the single digits, including poor
nighttime recoveries. Generally light winds follow diurnal trends
along with the normal afternoon gustiness resulting from strong
solar heating. Wind speeds nudge up over the weekend, but no
significant fire weather concerns are expected.

&&

.TWC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
None.
&&

Public...Cerniglia
Aviation...Howlett
Fire Weather....Howlett

Visit us on Facebook...Twitter...YouTube...and at weather.gov/Tucson

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, Chiricahua Mountains

When
May 25, 4:00 AM MST to May 29, 2:00 PM MST
Where
Chiricahua Mountains forecast zone
Reported by
Park/Forest Service
Coordinates
31.880, -109.751 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The human caused Warren Fire started May 25 in the Chiricahua Mountains of southeast Cochise County. The wildfire grew to 1400 acres by May 29 in hot and dry conditions. No fire growth was experienced after this date, but the fire was not officially contained until June 5. Fire suppression costs tallied over $3 million.

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 2021Every state in 2021This day in weather historyWarnings in Arizona, May 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: 958535.