Causes of Wildfires

In an average year, Havasu National Wildlife Refuge will have several wildfires that occur on and/or near the refuge, including land managed by BLM, BIA, as well as state, county and private land. The frequency and size of these fires is dependant largely on weather conditions.

The vast majority of wildfires on the refuge and in Mohave county are caused by humans. Off the Refuge, many fires are started as a result of debris burning. Often these fires are rekindled, in some cases several days after the fire is thought to be out, when air temperature, wind speed and relative humidity come together to create conditions favorable for fires to burn and spread.

Lightning also is responsible for fires starting on the Refuge. Such fires occur at a frequency of three to five every year. Lightning here is generally associated with rain, so these fires do not usually grow to a large size.

Human caused fires that start on the Refuge are most often the result of arson or carelessness. These fires are usually suppressed before they become large, but some have reached into the hundreds of acres and threatened life and property on and off the Refuge.