Watch Fire: Wildfire fully contained after flames tore through San Carlos
SAN CARLOS, Ariz. - A human-caused wildfire that destroyed homes and forced evacuations in the San Carlos community is now fully contained.
The wildfire, tribal officials say, started on July 10, spread into the bed of the San Carlos River. As of July 18, it has burned 2,162 acres. According to tribal officials, at least 21 homes and 13 auxiliary structures have been destroyed. Seventy-five people were left homeless, and more than 400 people were evacuated.
The San Carlos Apache Tribe declared a state of emergency and requested disaster assistance from state and federal governments.
Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs said $400,000 was made available to support the local community amid the wildfire.
"We have endured fires before, but the human scale of this one is particularly devastating," said San Carlos Apache Tribe Chairman Terry Rambler, in the statement. "Unfortunately, multiple families lost homes. It was horrible all the way around. I have received reports of families leaving with nothing, elders having no transportation, kids running with no shoes. We have never experienced anything like this."
Tribal officials are also calling this the most serious fire on the reservation in at least 30 years, but also said no injuries or deaths have been reported.
San Carlos is located on the San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation within Gila County.