Wildfire Triples In Size Overnight, Closes Rose Canyon Lake Near Tucson

TUCSON, AZ — A lightning-sparked wildfire in the Santa Catalina Mountains grew overnight from three acres to about 12 acres, closing Rose Canyon Lake Tuesday as helicopters prepared to dip water for crews on the ground.

The Table Mountain Fire, which ignited Sunday evening during a lightning storm in Pima Canyon, remained 0% contained as of a 6:07 a.m. Tuesday update.

No evacuations are in place and no structures or other values are at risk, but the overnight growth marked a significant jump for a fire that had held relatively steady through most of Monday.

What Caused the Overnight Spread

The fire’s expansion came after a roll-out late Monday night. An ignited tree fell and tumbled outside the existing burn scar, carrying burning material downslope through steep terrain, fire officials said.

The fire then became more active through the night, driven by diurnal winds, a natural wind pattern caused by temperature changes between daytime and nighttime atmospheric layers.

Firefighters worked through the night building containment lines and managing interior hot spots, and the fire began calming down Tuesday morning as those winds eased.

Rose Canyon Lake Closed for the Day

Rose Canyon Lake is closed Tuesday to allow helicopters to dip water from the lake in support of ground operations. Trails and the campground in the area remain open. The closure is expected to last throughout the day.

Rappelers are deployed on the fire and working to address remaining hot spots. A portable emergency water reservoir is also being installed near Catalina State Park as an additional water source for aircraft.

How It Started

The fire was first reported this weekend during a large lightning storm on the slopes of the Santa Catalinas, according to the U.S. Forest Service.

Bad weather kept air support on the ground initially, so firefighters hiked in to size the fire at approximately 3 acres. An infrared flight Monday detected only small heat signatures within the fire’s footprint, with no other new ignitions found in the area.

Drone operators are being told to stay out of the area. A temporary flight restriction is in place, and anyone found to have interfered with firefighting operations using an unmanned aircraft could face civil fines of up to $25,000 and potential criminal prosecution.