The fire held at 3,145 acres with 31 personnel assigned as crews kept securing the perimeter. Managers said this was the last scheduled morning update, with further information posted to InciWeb.
- Acres
- 3,145
- Containment
- 80%
- Last update
- —
Source: NIFC WFIGS feed ↗
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Current status
As of July 30, 2026 at 9:11 PM MST
As of July 30, 2026, InciWeb put the Island Fire at 3,145 acres and 80% contained, about 25 miles southwest of Ehrenberg inside the Cibola National Wildlife Refuge along the Colorado River. The fire started the night of July 25 on the California side of the refuge and spread across the river into Arizona, and its cause is still under investigation. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service manages the incident under a Type 4 organization, with 31 personnel assigned on July 30, down from 85 two days earlier. Crews cut dozer lines and ran burnout operations early in the week and have since worked on securing the perimeter. Managers said the July 30 morning update would be the last scheduled one.
The fire's heaviest consequence is the loss of the Hart Mine Road bridge over the Colorado River, which collapsed on July 27 after fire damaged its structure. The Bureau of Reclamation said portions of the span remain in the water and that five federal agencies responded, installing buoy barriers and signage around the site. The Arizona Daily Star reported it was one of only two bridges still linking the Arizona and California banks in an area used by hunters, anglers and birdwatchers. It is the second crossing lost to fire nearby in about a year: KAWC reported that the Oxbow Bridge roughly six miles away burned in August 2025, remains closed, and carries a rebuild estimate of $13.2 million. La Paz County Supervisor Holly Irwin said the bridge is an essential equipment route for local farmers.
The Island Management Unit of the refuge is closed to the public and Hart Mine Road is closed at the refuge boundary. The Arizona Daily Star reported that no structures were threatened and no evacuations had been ordered, and no injuries have been reported. Growers who farm the island now face long detours to move produce and equipment toward Yuma and California.
Sources: InciWeb, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, Arizona Daily Star, Arizona's Family, KAWC Colorado River Public Media, KYMA
Fire timeline
These headlines link to reporting by news outlets and agencies, not by AZMap.
Milestones synthesized by AZMap from the cited sources.
- Island Fire reaches 75% containment as morning updates end (July 30)
- Island Fire collapses a bridge, burns through Cibola wildlife refuge in AZ
The fire destroyed one of only two bridges still linking the Arizona and California banks of the Colorado River in an area used by hunters, anglers and birdwatchers. Locals told the paper the fire started near Walter's Camp on the California side.
- 'Wall of fire': Farmer watches Arizona wildfire consume Colorado River bridge
Cibola farmer Amy Etienne described watching the fire reach her property and take out the Hart Mine Road bridge. Growers now face long detours to move produce and equipment to Yuma and California.
- Suspected fire damage linked to Hart Mine Road (Cibola) Bridge collapse; no injuries reported
Reclamation said the bridge over the Colorado River collapsed from structural damage tied to the fire, with portions of the span left in the water. Five federal agencies responded and installed buoy barriers and signage around the site.
- Hart Mine Road Bridge collapses nearly one year after Oxbow Bridge burned
The collapse came about a year after the Oxbow Bridge roughly six miles away burned and closed, leaving farmers with a second lost crossing. La Paz County Supervisor Holly Irwin said the bridge is an essential equipment route for the farming community.
- Island Fire Daily Update: 3,217 acres, 15% contained in Cibola refuge (July 28)
Crews built dozer lines and ran burnout operations on the fire in the Cibola National Wildlife Refuge, with 85 personnel assigned. The Island Management Unit and Hart Mine Road stayed closed after the road's bridge over the Colorado River collapsed.
Firefighters battle Island Fire at Cibola National Wildlife Refuge
Engines, hand crews and aircraft worked the fire in La Paz County as more wildland firefighters were ordered in. Officials asked pedestrians, drivers and boaters to stay out of the area and reported no injuries.
Read at KYMAContainmentJuly 27
First containment reported: 15% at an estimated 3,218 acres.
Source: Arizona Daily Star · July 30, 7:20 AM
Island Fire collapses a bridge, burns through Cibola wildlife refuge in AZ. The fire destroyed one of only two bridges still linking the Arizona and California banks of the Colorado River in an area used by hunters, anglers and birdwatchers. Locals told the paper the fire started near Walter's Camp on the California side.
Read at Arizona Daily StarWildfire destroys bridge over Colorado River in southwestern Arizona
Parts of the Hart Mine Road bridge fell into the Colorado River after the fire damaged its structure, and no injuries were reported. Federal agencies set buoy barriers and signs to keep boaters away from the debris.
Read at Arizona's Family
Fire startJuly 25
Fire started on the California side of the Cibola National Wildlife Refuge and spread across the Colorado River into Arizona.
Source: KAWC Colorado River Public Media · July 28, 4:31 PM
Hart Mine Road Bridge collapses nearly one year after Oxbow Bridge burned. The collapse came about a year after the Oxbow Bridge roughly six miles away burned and closed, leaving farmers with a second lost crossing. La Paz County Supervisor Holly Irwin said the bridge is an essential equipment route for the farming community.
Read at KAWC Colorado River Public Media