A series of wildfires burned throughout U.S. state of Arizona during 2025.
Historically, while "fire season" in Arizona began in April in desert areas and May around the Mogollon Rim with peak activities near July, there is now a fire risk year-round. Arizona is drought prone, with precipitation much different between the deserts and mountains. When the snow pack on the mountain melts, the moisture can reduce the risk of wildfire events. However, climate change can raise the snow line, reduce snow pack, decrease runoff, or cause earlier snowmelt. A risk of decreasing precipitation and dry monsoons could heighten fire risks. Heavy rainfall can allow vegetation to grow, and many of these plants quickly dry out in just hours.
By the end of spring (June 20), wildfires in Arizona had burned approximately , marking a slightly above-average start to the 2025 season. The early uptick in activity was largely attributed to wind-driven grass and brush fires across central and southern Arizona, fueled by prolonged drought conditions and unseasonably high temperatures.
The first fatality of the season occurred on May 27, when a firefighter was injured during suppression efforts on the Copper Ridge Fire near Superior and later died from heat-related causes.
During July, extreme heat and a series of dry thunderstorms ignited numerous large wildfires in northern and eastern Arizona. The Black Mesa Fire in Navajo County and the Santa Teresa Fire in Gila County each burned tens of thousands of acres, threatening several small communities and forcing temporary evacuations. By July 31, over had burned statewide, one of the most active mid-season totals since 2020.
In August, widespread monsoonal rainfall moderated fire behavior across much of central and southern Arizona. However, several lightning-induced fires persisted in remote northern areas, including the Kaibab Plateau Fire and Sitgreaves Complex, which continued burning into early September under dry post-monsoon conditions.
By late September, cooler temperatures and scattered rainfall helped end most major fire activity. The 2025 Arizona wildfire season has so far burned an estimated statewideâÂÂroughly 40 percent above the five-year averageâÂÂcausing moderate ecological impacts but relatively limited structural loss due to early detection and coordinated response efforts.
The following is a list of fires that burned more than , produced significant structural damage, or resulted in casualties.