Firefighters have been battling the Gila Fire in southwest Arizona since it was reported at 7:15 a.m. on April 2, 2021. The fire is near the Gila River, north of Interstate 8, and south of Hyder Road. It is 8 air miles northeast of Dateland and 74 miles southwest of Phoenix. A power line is threatened but no structures are endangered.
The Bureau of Land Management said at 2:27 p.m. on Sunday it had burned about 2,112 acres.
Fire resources have conducted burnout operations to reduce fuel ahead of the fire to manage fire intensity and tie in to natural features such as rock outcroppings, roads, and areas of lighter vegetation to assist with containment.
Ground and air resources from the Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Forest Service, and Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management are on scene. On Sunday a total of 22 personnel were assigned to the fire.
At 3:52 p.m. Sunday MDT the Oatman weather station northeast of the fire recorded 94 degrees, 5 percent relative humidity, and 12 mph southwest winds gusting to 18 mph.
The forecast for the fire area is not good news for the firefighters. It calls for winds decreasing Sunday night, but on Monday a high of 97 degrees, 7 percent relative humidity, and 16 mph southwest to west winds gusting to 24 mph in the afternoon.
