Arizona Wildfire History
The major wildfires that shaped Arizona — and why today’s risk looks the way it does. The largest on this list, the 2011 Wallow Fire, burned about 538K acres.
Check your AZ address’s risk →Major Arizona wildfires
- 2022
Tunnel & Pipeline Fires
· 30,000 acresBurned near Flagstaff weeks apart, destroying structures and triggering post-fire flooding.
- 2021
Telegraph Fire
· 180,000 acresOne of Arizona’s largest, near Globe and the Pinal Mountains.
- 2013
Yarnell Hill Fire
· 8,400 acresKilled 19 Granite Mountain Hotshots — the deadliest day for U.S. wildland firefighters in decades.
- 2011
Wallow Fire
· 538,000 acresThe largest wildfire in Arizona history, in the White Mountains.
- 2002
Rodeo-Chediski Fire
· 468,000 acresThen the largest in state history, on the Mogollon Rim.
Figures are rounded from official sources (CAL FIRE, NIFC, state forestry agencies) for well-documented incidents. For the full federal record, see InciWeb and NIFC.
Arizona wildfire history — frequently asked
What was the largest wildfire in Arizona history?
The largest wildfire on this Arizona timeline is the 2011 Wallow Fire, which burned about 538,000 acres. The largest wildfire in Arizona history, in the White Mountains.
What was the most recent major wildfire in Arizona?
The most recent major fire on this Arizona timeline is the 2022 Tunnel & Pipeline Fires. Burned near Flagstaff weeks apart, destroying structures and triggering post-fire flooding.
How many major wildfires has Arizona had?
This Arizona timeline documents 5 major recorded wildfires, from the 2002 to the 2022, drawn from official sources.
Everything for Arizona wildfire safety
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