25-05-2025
Cortaro Fire burning in riverbed near Tucson now under control
The Cortaro Fire in Marana burned about 100 acres of brush in the Santa Cruz River bed on May 24, according to emergency officials.
Authorites said the fire was the result of numerous brush fires in the riverbed that merged into one, but crews were able to contain most of the blaze by midafternoon.
About 1 p.m., the Pima County Sheriff's Department was among the first agencies to report a fire burning in the riverbed near Silverbell and Cortaro roads.
As a precaution, Marana police closed the nearby Wheeler Taft Abbett Sr. Library and Crossroads Park. Eastbound Cortaro Road at the Santa Cruz bridge was also shut down due to the fire.
The Police Department reported the multiple brush fires that turned into one included one near the Santa Cruz bridge and Cortaro Road, and another behind an Amazon building farther south on Silverbell Road near Ina Road.
Plumes of dark smoke were sent into the midday air just north of Tucson, but shifted to white about 3 p.m. as crews established some containment lines in the riverbed.
Tiffany Davila, spokesperson for the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management, said about 40 personnel were at the site to battle the fire and that its behavior had "moderated."
She said the fire was fueled by a mixture of salt cedar, cattail reeds and mesquite trees dried by recent hot temperatures.
The fire reportedly started between Cortaro Farms and Ina roads, according to Davila.
Just after 3:45 p.m., the Northwest Fire District reported the fire "declared under control" and that no structures were threatened.
The cause of the fire remained unknown.
This is a developing story; check back for more details.
Reach reporter Rey Covarrubias Jr. at rcovarrubias@ Follow him on X, Threads and Bluesky @ReyCJrAZ.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Cortaro Fire burning in riverbed near Tucson now under control
