Highlights
- Tonto National Forest officials issued what they expect to be their final update on the Horseshoe Fire Wednesday evening.
- Containment reached 85% with minimal fire activity, though smoke and isolated heat pockets remain in the interior.
- The fire, mapped at 233 acres, started in the Cave Creek Ranger District near Horseshoe Lake; its cause remains under investigation.
- An emergency closure of Horseshoe Dam Road and several nearby trails stays in effect through June 1 unless rescinded earlier.
The Horseshoe Fire northeast of Phoenix is entering its final suppression phase, with Tonto National Forest officials reporting 85% containment and minimal fire activity as of Wednesday evening, when they issued what they expected to be their last update on the blaze.
The interior of the brush fire was still producing smoke and isolated heat pockets as of Tuesday evening, but none of the activity was threatening containment, according to officials. The fire started in the Cave Creek Ranger District of Tonto National Forest near Horseshoe Lake and was mapped at 233 acres the day after ignition. That size has not changed.
The burn area sits on the west side of the Verde River and on both sides of Horseshoe Dam Road. An emergency closure order remains in effect for Horseshoe Dam Road from Bartlett Dam Road to its end at Horseshoe Lake, along with several trails in the area. The order expires June 1 unless officials rescind it earlier. Officials also warned drone pilots to stay away from the fire zone.
The cause of the Horseshoe Fire remains under investigation. KTAR and AZ Family both reported on the fire's progression. The closure order expires June 1.
Sources
Every factual claim in this article traces to one of the sources below. See how we work for the editorial process.
- ktar.com retrieved 14/05/2026 04:28
- AZ Family (3TV/CBS5) retrieved 14/05/2026 04:28
Authored by The Scottsdale Signal. Drafted by AI from primary-source material under our beat-specific editorial guides; reviewed by humans before publish under our five-gate process. Sources retrieved at 14/05/2026 04:28. Every claim traces to a source.
