Arizona Watcher
A wildfire ignited in the Catalina Foothills Friday night after lightning moved through the area, the station’s meteorology team reports. The fire was first noticed while staff monitored storm conditions late Friday evening.
Weather-tracking equipment recorded several powerful lightning strikes shortly before 10 p.m., and radar imagery at 9:48 p.m. showed concentrated storm cells over the Catalina Foothills, prompting detection of smoke and fire signatures.
Early reporting noted limited verified details: the exact location within the Catalina Foothills, the fire’s size and containment, and which agency had assumed command had not yet been confirmed.
A field crew from the station was dispatched to gather video from the vicinity. On-scene confirmation and updates from public safety organizations were expected to clarify location, spread and any threats to structures or residents.
Residents were advised to monitor official channels such as Pima County and the Pima County Sheriff’s Department for emergency notifications; at the time no formal evacuations, road closures or advisories had been published.
Saturday updates from the Santa Catalina Ranger District and U.S. Forest Service identified the lightning-caused Finger Ridge (Finger Rock) Fire at 20 acres and 0% containment, holding within its footprint near Finger Rock Trail, which was closed; no evacuations or structures…
A wildfire ignited in the Catalina Foothills Friday night after lightning moved through the area. Our meteorology team observed the fire while tracking storms; officials have not yet released information on size, containment, or response agencies.