Southern Arizona is facing another summer of drought, and in a climate where heat is an ongoing concern, wildfire is the region’s immediate threat.
Steven Miranda is fire staff officer for the Coronado National Forest.
Colorado suffered two straight years of deadly fire seasons in 2012 and 2013.
More than three-quarters of Colorado baked under drought conditions just ahead of the wildfires.
This week, they started closing parts of three national forests: Apache-Sitgreaves, Coconino and Tonto.
Southern Arizona received some rainfall in the winter months, but forecasters maintain it wasn’t enough.
The Arizona Department of Water Resources reported last winter was the driest on record.
She says desert wildlife can adapt to dry conditions, but animals are not accustomed to going through an entire season with little water.
"We didn’t have that this year, so now they are really working down into areas where we have water, into areas where people have water out.
"All of our wildlife is looking for water."