New wildfire burns in the Catalina Foothills after lightning strikes area

A wildfire was burning in the Catalina Foothills late Friday night after thunderstorms and several lightning strikes moved across the Tucson area, putting flames within view of residents near East Skyline Drive and North Swan Road. The fire appeared to be near Finger Rock Trail, and flames could be seen from parts of Tucson. As of the initial reports, there was no confirmed information about the fire’s size, containment, responding agency, evacuations or road closures.

The fire was first identified while a KGUN9 meteorologist was monitoring weather conditions Friday evening. The station’s Baron weather equipment detected several strong lightning strikes in the area shortly before 10 p.m. Radar imagery recorded storm activity over the region at 9:48 p.m. Those observations, along with the timing of the fire, pointed to lightning as a likely cause, although no agency had officially confirmed the origin by Saturday morning.

Christopher Travers submitted a photograph showing flames in the foothills at about 11:30 p.m. Friday. The image placed the visible fire near East Skyline Drive and North Swan Road, an area close to roads, neighborhoods and popular access points in the Catalina Mountains. The apparent location near Finger Rock Trail also raised the possibility of impacts for hikers and others who use the foothills, though there was no immediate report of trail closures or other restrictions.

The early reports did not identify which fire agency was handling the incident. Coronado National Forest had not released official information Saturday morning about the fire’s cause or acreage. KGUN9 said a crew was collecting video from the scene and that additional details were expected as officials assessed the situation. Until that information became available, residents had no confirmed word on whether the blaze was growing, being contained or threatening nearby homes and roads.

The new fire emerged against the backdrop of another serious wildfire in the Catalina Mountains, the Table Mountain Fire near Pima Canyon. That fire had burned 105 acres and was 80 percent contained as of 11 a.m. Friday, June 19. The Coronado National Forest said it was likely started by lightning around 7 p.m. Sunday, June 14. The available reports do not establish that the overnight foothills fire was part of the Table Mountain Fire, and the two incidents should be treated as separate unless officials determine otherwise.

More than 150 people were fighting the Table Mountain Fire, which was burning through juniper, oak, sotol and grass. Firefighters were extending and strengthening the perimeter while using suppression tactics on the mountain. An infrared helicopter flight found remaining heat on steep, inaccessible cliff faces, inside thick oak duff and in the fire’s interior. A Southeast Zone Type 3 Incident Management Team took command early Wednesday, adding resources shortly after completing work on the Box Fire in the Rincon Mountains.

Conditions on the Table Mountain Fire also illustrated the challenges crews face in the Catalina terrain. The Coronado National Forest warned that drying weather was expected, although another storm could develop. The main concern was burning vegetation rolling downhill across steep ground. On Monday, a large burning tree reportedly tumbled down the mountain and carried fire beyond the existing burn scar. That risk is particularly significant in rugged areas where access is difficult and flames can move through vegetation or reach locations that are hard for crews to approach.

As part of the response to the Table Mountain Fire, crews closed Rose Canyon Lake on Mount Lemmon so they could use its water for firefighting. Trails and the campground remained open during that closure. Officials also warned the public not to fly drones near wildfire operations. Anyone operating a drone inside a Temporary Flight Restriction can face jail time and fines of up to $25,000, while an aircraft in the fire area can interfere with helicopters and other emergency work.

For Tucson residents, the immediate priority is to watch for official updates before heading into the Catalina Foothills and to avoid interfering with emergency operations. The Friday night fire had not yet produced confirmed evacuation orders or road closures, but those conditions could change as firefighters determine its location and behavior. Residents who saw flames from Skyline, Swan or nearby neighborhoods were urged to rely on fire agencies and local emergency announcements for verified information, while additional scene reporting and agency assessments were still pending.