Polles Fire

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Polles Fire, in the Mazatzal Wilderness Area of Arizona, started on July 3, 2020, about 11 miles west of Payson in the Tonto National Forest. It was sparked by lightning during a thunderstorm and burned along the Arizona Trail, covering about 628 acres. The rugged terrain, with pinyon-juniper and desert grasses, made access difficult; crews fought the fire mainly from helicopters using water and retardant drops. The fire led to the closure of Tonto Natural Bridge State Park on July 6. On July 7, a firefighting helicopter crashed, killing pilot Bryan Boatman; the National Transportation Safety Board investigated, and the governor ordered state flags at half-mast in his honor. Over the weekend the fire grew due to gusty winds, reaching around 647 acres, and containment dropped from about 95% to 80%. By July 15 the fire was 92% contained, and it was fully contained on July 16. The incident affected tourism and recreation in the area.