Oracle fire 5% contained; over 1,200 acres burned | News

ORACLE, Ariz. (KVOA) – Firefighters in Oracle have made progress in containing a fire that has burned more than 1,200 acres. The fire is now 5% contained, according to the incident commander.

Helicopters have been conducting water bucket drops throughout the day, using Rose Canyon Lake as a dip site. Crews are working to knock down hot spots and spot fires.

Crews will remain on the lines overnight, continuing to strengthen containment and monitor for flare-ups. Fire officials expect less intense fire activity as temperatures cool and winds calm.

“The behavior we saw was extreme. It was a downhill run—something we don’t usually see, except sometimes on the Coronado. It was 2 p.m., and it hit the houses before we could even get to them. We had to focus on evacuations. Honestly, there were a lot of heroic actions that happened in those moments,” said Incident Commander Lathe Evans.

Officials say if fire activity stays minimal, evacuation orders will be reevaluated.