Aerial Photo of Tortolita Fire and Bighorn Fire in background-photo by InciWeb
Unfortunately, winds have resulted in expansion of fire area to 3,500 acres. Additional crews and aerial fire fighting apparatus have been employed. Tough terrain is making fire fighting difficult. Here is latest report on InciWeb.
"Fire activity has increased due to Sunday's winds and is pushing it to the southwest. The fire is now estimated at 3,500 acres. The Tortolita Fire is two miles from the Cochise Spring-area, west of Tortolita and Christopher Ranch, east of Marana. There are no evacuations at this time.
Firefighters are trying to keep the fire east and south of Cochise Spring Road and north of Dove Mountain and West Powerline Road. Crews are working in rugged, and in some areas, inaccessible terrain, which is challenging containment efforts. Ten pieces of aircraft are working to help slow the movement of the fire, including heavy tankers, helicopters, and Air Attack. The Tortolita Fire started Friday night, north of Oro Valley, after a thunderstorm moved across the Tortolita Mountains."