Crews battling wildfires in central Arizona looked to weekend monsoon storms for relief as they worked to contain the Woods and Washington fires.
Firefighters on the Woods Fire, burning near Sedona, made notable progress, bringing the blaze to 50% containment within two days.
The lightning-caused Washington Fire has not grown in size since Aug. 14, thanks to recent rain. Containment on the wildfire near Payson increased by 5% in a single day.
In Gila County, affected areas remain under “GO” status, while the “Set” status for parts of Yavapai County was lifted on Aug. 15
Here’s the latest on the Woods and Washington fires.
Washington Fire
The Washington Fire, burning about 11 miles north of Payson, has burned 551 acres, according to InciWeb, a federal wildfire tracker. The fire was 5% contained as of noon on Aug. 16.
The fire, caused by lightning, began on Aug. 13, according to InciWeb.
Stage 2 fire restrictions were put in place for the Tonto National Forest, and a closure order was issued for areas affected by the fire, according to the U.S. Forest Service.
The Washington Fire burning north of Payson
Gila County Division of Emergency Management recommended the following areas be issued a “Go” status due to the fire:
Fire officials expected precipitation, with a 70% chance of thunderstorms on the afternoon of Aug. 17. Thunderstorm activity could bring significant rainfall, unstable wind patterns, and frequent lightning.
Smoke may still be visible as damp fuels continue to hold heat, according to InciWeb.
Woods Fire
The Woods Fire, burning near Sedona, spread to 59 acres, according to InciWeb, a federal wildfire tracker. As of Aug. 16, the fire was 55% contained.
The Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office lifted the “Set” status for all affected areas on Aug. 15. A temporary flight restriction over the fire was also lifted.
Firefighters from the U.S. Forest Service and Sedona Fire District were working together to contain the Woods Fire, located about 2 miles east of the Village of Oak Creek atop Horse Mesa, roughly 6 miles southeast of Sedona. The fire was seen in an Aug. 13, 2025 photo.
The Woods Fire was ignited by lightning around noon on Aug. 13. Firefighters and air resources immediately responded to the blaze, burning about two miles east of the Village of Oak Creek atop Horse Mesa, according to InciWeb.
Crews worked to suppress the fire and keep it within a retardant line that was dropped on the first day. As of Aug. 15, firefighters had successfully suppressed the fire and secured its perimeter.
The estimated containment date was Aug. 20, according to InciWeb. Firefighters continued monitoring and extinguishing hot spots within the perimeter as they worked toward full containment and prepared for possible monsoon storms.
High humidity created favorable conditions, allowing crews to use natural landscape features and human-made barriers to keep the fire within its footprint, according to InciWeb. There were 35 personnel assigned to the Woods Fire, as well as two engines, one helicopter, and a medic team, according to InciWeb.
The following trails near Sedona were closed until Aug. 31 due to the Woods Fire, according to the U.S. Forest Service.
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Jacks Canyon Trail No. 55
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Woods Canyon Trail No. 93
Arizona Republic reporter Helen Rummel contributed to this article.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Containment of central Arizona fires grows over the weekend
