Arizona, 2022Wildfire in Arizona, April 20 to 22, 2022
April 20 to 22, 2022 · NWS TWC · 1 event in 1 county or zone
The human caused Camino Fire started on April 20 near Sunizona in Cochise County as the result of a vehicle dragging tow chains along a roadway. The wildfire was driven by wind gusts to 45 mph at times and 750 acres were quickly burned before forward progression was stopped.
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- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- $25,000
- 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.
The human caused Camino Fire started on April 20 near Sunizona in Cochise County as the result of a vehicle dragging tow chains along a roadway. The wildfire was driven by wind gusts to 45 mph at times and 750 acres were quickly burned before forward progression was stopped. The fire caused evacuations of around 40 residences, the closure of State Route 181, damage to utility infrastructure and the destruction of one structure. Fire suppression costs tallied $600,000.
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 20, 2:30 AM MST, 9 hours 55 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Apr 20, 2:30 AM MST, 9 hours 55 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
230 AM MST Wed Apr 20 2022
.SYNOPSIS...Dry and breezy at times, with temperatures well above
average through Thursday. A passing storm system will bring strong
gusty winds Friday and push temperatures back down to near or
below average to end the week. Dry and warmer again early next
week.
&&
.DISCUSSION...Zonal flow will continue over the area today into
early Thursday before becoming SWLY in advance of next Pacific
weather system which will impact the area on Friday. High
temperatures today and Thursday, depending on location, will be 2
to 8 degrees above normal. Afternoon breeziness today and
Thursday afternoon with strong gusty winds and fire weather
concerns returning to the area on Friday. See fire weather section
below for further details. Cooler temperatures Friday through
Sunday with the coolest day in the next 7 days being Saturday.
High temperatures warm back up early next week under building
ridge.
&&
.AVIATION...Valid through 21/12Z.
Clear skies/SKC conditions to a FEW clouds AOA 20k ft MSL thru the
forecast period. SFC wind generally less than 12 kts (except in the
vicinity of KALK) thru 20/17Z, then increasing SFC wind. SWLY/WLY
SFC wind at 14-20 kts and gusts to near 30 kts between 20/19Z and
21/02Z, with the strongest SFC wind east of KTUS. Decreasing SFC
wind aft 21/02Z and SFC wind less than 12 kts by 21/05Z. SFC wind in
the vicinity of KALK, SWLY at 17-22 kts and gusts to around 30 kts
thru 21/04Z, then slowly diminishing. Aviation discussion not
updated for TAF amendments.
&&
.FIRE WEATHER...Very dry conditions are expected for much of the
next week, with afternoon RH values dropping below critical levels
each day. There will be slight increase in moisture on Friday, but
RH values will still lower into the 10-15 percent range as opposed
to the single digits the other days. Overnight recoveries will be
poor through Friday, then improve some on Saturday and Sunday
morning before drying out again. Breezy conditions are expected
this afternoon and Thursday afternoon, with strong and gusty winds
returning Friday. Critical fire weather conditions may be met
or exceeded Friday across southeast Arizona. Breezy afternoon
conditions then persist east of Tucson on Saturday, with lighter
winds Sunday. Above normal high temperatures will continue through
Thursday, with cooler readings Friday through the weekend as high
temperatures fall below normal Friday and Saturday.
&&
.TWC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...None.
&&
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Wildfire, Eastern Cochise County Below 5000 Feet
- When
- April 20, 12:25 PM MST to April 22, 5:00 PM MST
- Where
- Eastern Cochise County Below 5000 Feet forecast zone
- Property damage
- $25,000
- Reported by
- State Official
- Coordinates
- 31.880, -109.751 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
The human caused Camino Fire started on April 20 near Sunizona in Cochise County as the result of a vehicle dragging tow chains along a roadway. The wildfire was driven by wind gusts to 45 mph at times and 750 acres were quickly burned before forward progression was stopped. The fire caused evacuations of around 40 residences, the closure of State Route 181, damage to utility infrastructure and the destruction of one structure. Fire suppression costs tallied $600,000.
- 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.
- Tornado and Winter Storm in California, April 20 to 22, 20226 events
- Hail in Missouri, April 20, 20221.75 in hail · 3 events
- Marine Thunderstorm Winds in Gulf of Mexico, April 20, 20222 events
- High Wind in Oregon, April 20, 202258 kt wind · 2 events
- Heavy Snow and High Wind in Nevada, April 20 to 22, 202255 kt wind · 2 events
- Rip Current in Puerto Rico, April 20, 20221 event
- High Wind in California, April 20, 202251 kt wind · 1 event
- Wildfire in Texas, April 20, 20221 event
- Damaging Wind in California, April 20, 202255 kt wind · 1 event
- Hail in Arkansas, April 20, 20220.75 in hail · 1 event
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: 1025018.