Although the evacuation was not necessary, the Pima County Sheriff’s Office said in a press release early Monday that residents of the Hay Hook Ranch Estates area “should consider moving outside the affected area with family / friends.”
The department reminded residents to “keep in mind” the items they may need for pets and livestock, and to be aware of the latest fire news.
“Emergency services cannot guarantee that they will be able to notify everyone if conditions deteriorate rapidly,” the department said.
The blaze, which is about 40 miles southwest of Tucson, is 40 percent under control, according to InciWeb, a U.S. clearing house for fire information. On Friday, the fire in Contreras damaged several buildings at the Keith Peak National Observatory, NOIRLab of the National Science Foundation (National Optical-Infrared Research Laboratory for Astronomy) said in a statement.
“All the physical scientific structures for the observatory are still standing, and in the case of the facilities on the Southwest Ridge, there is little visible external damage at the moment; however, several unscientific buildings were lost, “said NOIRLab.
The fire is burning in highly flammable grass and bushes in steep, rugged terrain that is difficult for firefighters to access, according to InciWeb.
The fire started on June 11 on a remote ridge of a mountain range in the Tohono O’Odham Indian Reservation, InciWeb reports. She lists the cause as lightning.
Raja Razek of CNN contributed to this report.
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