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Contreras Fire Quick Facts:

• Size: 6.662 acres (acreage updated at 5pm)
• Containment: 0%
• Road Closures and Evacuations: None
• Resources on the Fire: 3 helicopters, 1 air attack, 4 hand crews, 4 Water Tenders, 4 engines 
• Total Personnel: 300+
• Jurisdiction: BIA, Papago Agency
• Reservation: Tohono O'odham Nation, AZ
• Start Date: June 11, 2022
• Fire Cause: Under Investigation
• InciWeb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8154/

Sells, AZ – A continued evaluation of fire activity and increased incident complexity guided agency administrators to order a Type 2 Incident Management Team. The Southeast Arizona Type 3 Incident Management Team will in brief the Eastern Area Type 2 Incident Management Team at 1800 today. The Type 2 Incident Management Team will take command over the Contreras Fire at 0600 tomorrow morning. The fire grew to 5,754 acres, with no containment at this time. High winds, low relative humidity and extremely rough terrain continue to challenge firefighting efforts. The fire remained active throughout the night and into the morning, moving through the drought stressed vegetation. 

The fire grew to the north. Aviation resources have had limited success due to smoke in the area and retardant has had limited success due to extremely dry fuels and high winds. Smoke from the fire is visible from Sells and Three Points, however, it does not pose a threat to communities.

Firefighters are attempting direct line construction to protect the Elk Horn Ranch with several contingency lines available for firefighter safety. The fire is approximately ¼ mile from the ranch.

Evacuations: None. Elk Horn Ranch, on the south end of the fire, is in SET status and the Kit Peak Observatory, north of the fire, is also in SET status. The fire is approximately four miles from the observatory.

Management Objective: Reduce fire intensity using aircraft and protect the Elk Horn Ranch and Kit Peak Observatory. Future objectives will include transferring command of the fire from the Southeast Arizona Type 3 Incident Management Team to the Eastern Area Type 2 Incident Management Team and continued work to keep the fire as small as safety possible while protecting firefighter and public safety.

Operational Update: Firefighters continue to assess the fire situation and work toward establishing point protection for the Elk Horn Ranch and Pit Peak Observatory. Air support is being utilized to keep the fire size as small as possible as it burns down steep and inaccessible slopes.

Background: The Contreras Fire started June 11 on a remote ridge of the Baboquivari Mountain range, north of the Baboquivari Peak, 20 miles east of Sells, Arizona on the Tohono O'odham Indian Reservation.

Primary and Cooperating Agencies: Bureau of Indian Affairs, Tohono O’odham Nation, Bureau of Land Management.

A fire update will be released when significant activity occurs. Visit InciWeb for the most current fire information.