The Telegraph Fire was a wildfire that started near Superior, Arizona on June 4, 2021. The fire burned 180,757 acres (73,150 ha) and was fully contained on July 3, 2021. It was the largest wildfire in the United States of the 2021 wildfire season until being surpassed by the Bootleg Fire in Oregon on July 13, 2021.[1][2]

Telegraph Fire
Smoke from the Telegraph Fire as seen from space on June 14
Date(s)June 4, 2021 (2021-06-04) – July 3, 2021 (2021-07-03)
LocationSuperior, Arizona
Coordinates33°12′32″N 111°05′31″W / 33.209°N 111.092°W / 33.209; -111.092
Statistics
Burned area180,757 acres (73,150 ha)
Impacts
Structures destroyed52
Ignition
CauseHuman-caused (under investigation)
Map
Telegraph Fire is located in Arizona
Telegraph Fire
Location in Southern Arizona

Progression

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June

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The Telegraph Fire was first reported at around 1:30 pm MST on June 4, 2021.[1]

Cause

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The fire is believed to be human-caused, but it is still under further investigation.[1]

Containment

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On July 3, 2021, the Telegraph Fire reached 100% containment.[1]

Effects

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Closures and evacuations

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The Telegraph Fire led to a number of closures and evacuations.

On June 6, 2021, residents in Top-of-the-World and the Oaks Mobile Home and RV Park were ordered to evacuate.[3] Later that same day, all Miami residents west of the Miami town limits were ordered to evacuate.[4] On June 14, 2021, residents of El Capitan, Arizona were ordered to evacuate.[5]

State Route 77 is closed in both directions between the State Route 177 junction in Winkelman and US 70. State Route 177 is closed between US 60 in Superior and State Route 77 in Winkelman.[3]

Damage

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As of June 19, 2021, 51 structures have been destroyed by the fire, including 22 buildings in El Capitan.[6]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Telegraph Fire Information". InciWeb. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
  2. ^ Furman, Mark (July 13, 2021). "Bootleg Fire in Oregon largest conflagration in nation". KATU. Retrieved July 13, 2021.
  3. ^ a b "Evacuation orders issued due to Telegraph Fire in Pinal County". FOX 10 Phoenix. June 5, 2021. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
  4. ^ Snyder, Irene (June 5, 2021). "More communities asked to evacuate due to Telegraph Fire". FOX 10 Phoenix. Retrieved June 7, 2021.
  5. ^ "Evacuations ordered for residents of El Capitan as Telegraph Fire tops 88,000 acres". KPNX. June 14, 2021. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
  6. ^ Grigg, Nicole (June 19, 2021). "Couple loses everything in El Capitan from Telegraph Fire, 51 structures lost total". ABC 15 Arizona. Retrieved June 21, 2021.