Sawtooth Fire, another wildfire in the Phoenix area, burns hundreds of acres east of Gold Canyon

One flank of the fire has spread into the footprint of the huge Woodbury Fire that blackened over 96,000 acres in June, 2019

(UPDATED at 3:37 p.m. MDT May 31, 2020)

Sawtooth Fire
Sawtooth Fire May 31, 2020. Photo by Tonto National Forest.

The Tonto National Forest reported at 2:35 p.m. MDT May 31 that the Sawtooth Fire eight miles east of Gold Canyon had burned about 2,500 acres. No structures were threatened.

(To see all articles about the Sawtooth Fire on Wildfire Today, including the most recent, click here)

Sawtooth Fire Arizona
Sawtooth Fire May 31, 2020. Photo by Tonto National Forest.

(Originally published at 9:19 a.m. MDT May 31, 2020)

map Sawtooth Fire
Map based on heat detected by satellites on the Sawtooth Fire at 3:30 a.m. MDT May 31, 2020.

The greater Phoenix area has been plagued with numerous wildfires over the last two weeks. The Sawtooth Fire (the name could change) is the latest, reported Saturday evening near Coffee Flat east of Apache Junction and 8 miles east of Gold Canyon.

It is burning on lands protected by the state of Arizona and the Tonto National Forest where it has spread into the Superstition Wilderness.  A very rough estimate of the size based on heat detected by satellites at 3:30 a.m. Sunday is that the fire has burned at least 600 acres.

The good news, if there can be any about a wildfire, is that it appears to have burned into the footprint of the huge Woodbury Fire that blackened over 123,000 acres in June of 2019. That flank should not be very difficult to suppress if fire managers decide to suppress the fire, but it could still work around to the west, south, and north in fairly rugged terrain.

3-d map Sawtooth Fire
3-D map based on heat detected by satellites on the Sawtooth Fire at 3:30 a.m. MDT May 31, 2020. Looking east.

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Author: Bill Gabbert

After working full time in wildland fire for 33 years, he continues to learn, and strives to be a Student of Fire.

6 thoughts on “Sawtooth Fire, another wildfire in the Phoenix area, burns hundreds of acres east of Gold Canyon”

  1. Why is this reported in MDT when Arizona does not observe Daylight Savings Time. Arizona remains on Mountain Time all 12 months of the year.

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  2. It is really scary to see the fire from where I live it is a lot of dry grass every where

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