Fire near Mittry Lake burns 184 acres, linked to fireworks
A fireworks-sparked brush fire near Grey Water Pond burned 184 acres at Mittry Lake, but containment lines held and stopped further spread.
Containment lines held through Sunday night around an estimated 184-acre brush fire near Grey Water Pond at Mittry Lake, keeping the blaze from pushing farther across Bureau of Reclamation land and limiting the risk to nearby recreation areas and properties.
Rural Metro Fire said the fire was first reported at about 10:20 p.m. Saturday, May 24, 2026, when crews found a brush fire measuring roughly 100 feet by 50 feet and already spreading. Rural Metro requested help from the Bureau of Land Management, and Yuma Proving Ground also responded before being cleared by command. Crews remained on scene until BLM released them at about 4:30 a.m.
Rural Metro said the fire was caused by teenagers firing fireworks. No injuries were reported. BLM said the fire would be contained by the end of the day, and by Sunday night officials said the fire had not spread beyond the established lines.
For people around Mittry Lake, the immediate concern was less about flames racing into homes than about how quickly a small brush fire could threaten access, campers, and wildlife habitat in the area near Grey Water Pond. The smoke also carried its own health risk. Residents with respiratory issues were urged to stay indoors, and drivers were told to avoid heading toward the smoke while ash and particulate matter remained in the air.
The fire adds to a string of recent Mittry Lake-area brush fires that have forced evacuations and closures in past years. A January 5, 2025 fire near the lake pushed nearby campers to evacuate, and a June 29, 2023 fire grew to about 400 acres, prompting temporary closures and concern for nearby infrastructure. Those earlier incidents showed how fast fire in the lower Colorado River District can move when brush is dry and winds or ignition sources line up.
BLM has said human-related activity is one of the leading causes of wildfires on public lands, a warning that becomes more urgent as temperatures climb across Yuma County. For anglers, campers, and anyone using Bureau of Land Management-managed lands in the weeks ahead, the lesson from Mittry Lake is straightforward: one careless spark can turn into an overnight fire, and public lands can go from open recreation space to active response zone in minutes.
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