Basin Fire burns 36,000 acres in northwest Arizona

Basin Fire map Arizona — Map showing the location of the Basin Fire at noon MDT, May 10, 2020. Data is from a BLM GPS flight.

(UPDATED at 9:54 p.m. MDT May 11, 2020)

Data from a GPS mapping flight Monday afternoon revealed that the Basin Fire in northwest Arizona is three times larger than previously estimated and now covers 36,355 acres.

The lightning-caused fire is 14 miles southeast of Mesquite, Nevada.

A Red Flag Warning is in effect for Tuesday with a forecast for 20-30 mph southwest winds with gusts of 35 to 45 mph with relative humidity of 10 to 20 percent. This could cause the fire to spread further to the northeast if the fuels are receptive.

Approximately 134 personnel are assigned to the fire.

BAe-146 drops on the Basin Fire — A BAe-146 air tanker drops on the Basin Fire May 11, 2020. BLM photo.

(Originally published at 3:37 p.m. MDT May 11, 2020)

Map Basin Fire Arizona wildfires — Map showing the approximate location of the Basin Fire at 3:06 a.m. MDT, May 10, 2020.

A lightning-caused wildfire has burned approximately 10,000 acres in northwest Arizona 17 miles north of the Grand Canyon, 17 miles southeast of Mesquite, Nevada. It was reported in Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument at 2 p.m. Sunday after the passage of thunderstorms.

The area has been under a Red Flag Warning since Sunday morning — for dry lightning on Sunday and low relative humidity and gusty winds on Monday. The dry, windy conditions will lead to another Red Flag Warning on Tuesday.