UPDATE (1:15 p.m., July 15)
Bad weather prevented a planned infrared flight over the Freeman Fire Sunday night, which means no update on acreage.
A storm system that moved through the fire area brought high winds and some rain, but not enough rain to help with suppression.
Crews continue Monday to work on containment lines along the base of the Black Mountains on the Southwest and West sides of the fire.
Multiple hand crews and engines will be released and reassigned to other fires over the next 24 hours.
UPDATE (11:30 p.m., July 14)
The Freeman fire is now 65% contained.
The Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management say the fire grew to 32,568 acres, Sunday night.
In a tweet, the department said GO status was lifted for Willow Springs Ranch. All residents returned to READY status.
#FreemanFire PM Update for Sun. 7/14/24:
— AZ Dept. Forestry and Fire Management (@azstateforestry) July 15, 2024
Fire mapped today at 32,568 ac. w/65% containment.
GO status lifted for Willow Springs Ranch & all residents returned to ready. All roads w/n fire area remain closed to the public. An infrared flight is scheduled for tonight to… pic.twitter.com/g13QAszE3f
In the same post, they say all roads in the fire area remain closed to the public.
UPDATE (7:26 p.m., July 13):
Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management say that the Freeman fire has spread to 31, 727 acres and is at 5% containment. They say activity has decreased over the past 24 hours, but they're still seeing some on the Southwest side of the fire.
All road closures and evacuations remain the same. Highways 77 and 79 are open.
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UPDATE (10:45 p.m., July 12):
The Freeman Fire is still 0% contained, but hand crews have been pulled off the line until tomorrow morning.
Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management says that engine crews will continue to work through the night tying containment lines to existing roads since it will be difficult for the fire to jump them.
The department is urging residents of Pinal and Pima Counties to sign up for emergency alerts on their respective county websites.
Willow Springs Ranch is in what Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management call "Go Status," and the following roads are closed:
- Willow Springs Road at Highway 77
- Willow Springs Road at Freeman
- Freeman at Camino Rio
- Freeman at Barkerville
- Freeman at Highway 79
UPDATE (6:15 p.m., July 12):
KGUN 9's Cuyler Diggs takes look at the wildfire smoke forecast as the Freeman Fire continues to spread:
UPDATE: (1:48 p.m., July 12):
The Freeman Fire has spread to 28,026 acres, according to the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management.
“To be honest, it’s a large fire," said Tiffany Davila, public affairs officer for Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management. "There’s probably not gonna be containment, you know, in the next 24 hours.”
![IMG_3839.jpg](https://ewscripps.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/44a380d/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4032x3024+0+0/resize/1280x960!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fewscripps-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F4c%2F07%2Fd311aade45eb9997332d2d81b941%2Fimg-3839.jpg)
More resources are expected as the department is diverting resources off of Hillside fire to help support.
“Our resources are stretched thin,” Davila said.
KGUN 9's Jacqueline Aguilar has an update:
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UPDATE: (1:14 p.m., July 12):
The Freeman Fire has spread to 26,000 acres, according to the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management.
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UPDATE: (8:25 a.m., July 12):
The Freeman Fire stayed active through the evening, hindering suppression efforts out of safety concerns, according to a social media post from the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management.
A sudden wind shift at around 10:30 p.m. "pushed the fire in all directions," the post said, increasing fire behavior and forcing the evacuation of Willow Springs Ranch. The blaze is about two miles from the ranch.
The west flank of the fire is backing down off the Black Mountains. The east side of the fire is burning in rolling country filled with heavy vegetation, the post said.
Air attack was requested this morning.
The fire was the result of two lightning strikes. The first struck near the Oak Well Camp. A second struck about a mile away with the two fires subsequently merging.
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A wildfire is burning around 1,750 acres within the Black Mountains, northwest of Oracle.
The Arizona Department of Forestry says the "Freeman Fire" is about 16 miles southwest of Dudleyville.
Arizona Forestry says the fire is threatening a communications tower and power lines.
In a Facebook post, they say they are working to protect the structure by conducting burnout operations.
Arizona Forestry says they ordered an air attack, but couldn't launch due to high winds.
They say Tucson crews are battling the flames and requested additional crews and resources.
According to The Golder Ranch Fire District, smoke was visible Thursday evening around SaddleBrooke Ranch.
This is a developing story. Stay with KGUN 9 for the latest updates.