More wildfires could start amid dry conditions in 2024 [Video]

ARIZONA, USA — More than 170 fires have burned over 93,000 acres in the Tonto National Forest so far in 2024, and more fires could start amidst dry conditions expected over the next several months. 

The rain this year on the northern part of the Tonto National Forest, like near Payson, bringing lightning caused fires like the West and Preacher Fires. Those low intensity fires are being allowed to burn to address excess fuels. 

“Normally, if we have a good monsoon season, yes, they bring in lightning fires, but the additional rain that comes in puts out those fires, and that’s happened, say, the last couple of years, but that’s not the case this year,” Blake said. 

On the southern part of the forest, human-caused starts and dry fuels from a lackluster monsoon have been keeping …