Cave Creek Complex Wildfire

The Cave Creek Complex Wildfire was the third largest forest fire in the state of Arizona to date, after the Rodeo–Chediski Fire and Wallow Fire.

History
The fire started on June 21, 2005, by a lightning strike and scorched 243950 acre.

Within an hour, the fire had already burned from 2000 to 10000 acre.

When news agencies were covering the story, a FOX news affiliate captured video of the historic Cave Creek Mistress mine destroyed by the fire as soon as the fire touched it. The mine was a total loss.

The largest recorded saguaro cactus — standing at 46 feet tall and having a base circumference of 7 feet, 10 inches — was also injured in this fire, and later collapsed.