Photo: Kirkland Fire at Dusk
Sunday, August, 3, 2025 as of 8pm:
Fire activity remained steady today due to Sunday’s hot and dry conditions. The fire continues to burn within grass and brush and in some areas that are remote and inaccessible to resources. Throughout the day today, firefighters prepped a two-track road on the west and northwest flanks of the fire in preparation for tonight’s firing operations. A night shift will resume tactical firefighting operations along the road to keep the fire from pushing west and northwest into Kingsbury Mountain. Firefighters are working from the northwest flank moving south and up into a saddle between Sadies Peak and Kingsbury Mountain. Residents in the area may notice an increase in fire activity due to the overnight operations.
Photo: Hotshots doing perimeter firing operations
Across the fire’s perimeter resources are using indirect tactics utilizing existing roads and natural barriers to slow the fire’s spread as part of overall suppression efforts. Some areas of the fire are inaccessible to ground resources and therefore unsafe to put firefighters. Crews will continue taking advantage of opportunities to engage when the fire moves into more favorable fuels and terrain.
As of Sunday night, resources have the fire 35% contained at 923 acres. Some of the additional fire growth is due to Saturday night’s firing operations.
Moving into the week, hot and dry conditions linger with breezy afternoons. Continual hot and dry conditions coupled with low relative humidity levels contribute to fire activity and fire spread.
Residents in the Kirkland-area remain in SET and should be prepared to evacuate if fire activity increases. All READY, SET, GO information will come from the Sheriff’s Office or the Yavapai County Office of Emergency Management. Kirkland Fire operations is working closely with the Sheriff’s Office and Office of Emergency Management and has established two management action points; one to the north of the fire and one to the south. If the fire were to reach those points, the decision would be made to place those areas of Hillside and Yava in GO.
The Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management’s Type 3 team is in command of the fire. One hotshot crew, two DFFM hand crews, eight engines, three water tenders and a dozer are supporting the incident.
The Kirkland Fire started Friday, August 1, approximately 3:15 pm, 2 miles northeast of Hillside in Yavapai County. The wind-driven fire is pushed to the northeast through grass and brush throughout the afternoon and into the evening.
