As ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥â€™s largest school district prepares to pour resources into safely reopening schools amid a global health pandemic, the cost and impact of having armed, uniformed police officers on campuses has come into question.
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Unified School District spent a total of $1.2 million, nearly $500,000 of which covered the cost of school resource officers (SROs) and the remaining $700,000 paying for off-duty officers who man school events like high school football games, in 2018 and 2019.
But at a time when conversations about police brutality and the need for police reform are at the forefront of conversations nationally, the TUSD governing board is considering whether daily exposure to law enforcement officers is in the best interest of students of color and whether those financial resources could be spent to support students in different ways.
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Building trust at a cost?
TUSD has 12 school resource officers stationed at middle and high schools across the city.
They are tasked with not only responding to threats or acts of violence, but with building relationships with students and providing educational experiences including teaching courses on students’ rights and how to safely interact with police.
Programming linked to collaboration with law enforcement includes an alternative-to-arrest effort that has diverted more than 100 TUSD students away from the justice system and an initiative in which law enforcement alerts TUSD when students are exposed to criminal acts at home in an effort to provide additional monitoring and support as needed.
For the school year that just came to a close, TUSD had 44 threats of violence, some of which resulted in the need for full-blown threat assessments and others that were able to be discounted early on.
With 28 active shooter incidents reported in 2019, according to FBI statistics, such threats of violence cannot be taken lightly and reducing resources available to respond could be harmful, said Jeff Coleman, director of school safety for TUSD.
Coleman added that given recent events, providing positive examples of law enforcement authorities could build trust.
Though TUSD Governing Board President Kristel Foster acknowledges the potential for a school shooting — admitting that her previous support of SROs was rooted in fear, she questioned whether building trust of police through school resource officer programs is detrimental to minority children.
“I’m not against the work that you presented here ... I am against having a uniformed officer on the school site every single day and I want to hear what that means for our most vulnerable students,†Foster said.
“I want to hear specifically from our black young men – what does it mean to come to school every day?â€
De-escalation
Over the course of nearly seven years, Coleman says only three use-of-force incidents have occurred with school resource officers in TUSD, which serves more than 40,000 students.
The last incident was five years ago and Coleman attributes that to SROs being specially trained and investing themselves in their campus communities — a sentiment board members heard from principals who reached out to share stories of officers taking part in graduation parades last month and coaching sports teams.
Coleman noted that because school resource officers know the students, when conflict arises, the likelihood of an officer overreacting is greatly reduced.
“If you’re just put into the queue, you’re going to get a patrol officer, and often times, a patrol officer coming to the school is under a lot of pressure to get the job done and go on to the next event,†Coleman said. “They’ll be very focused on problem solving and not spending a lot of time to get to the root of the problem. It’s easier to, for instance, just make an arrest, do a paper referral, and get on to the next thing.â€
TUSD Governing Board Member Adelita Grijalva acknowledged that benefit but also expressed concern that SROs are sometimes thrust into the position of being an intermediary to de-escalate situations that are intensified by the presence of beat cops.
Priorities and prevention
For TUSD Governing Board Clerk Leila Counts, the discussion about SROs is not about individual officers.
“It’s about budgetary priorities and prevention,†she said.
Given the massive unrest, combined with the fact that over 1 million ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ns are collecting unemployment benefits due to the impacts of COVID-19, Counts feels a budgetary priority should be investing in counselors and social workers.
“This upcoming year, it’s going to be more important that ever when we’re talking about the economic hardships and serious issues that our students and their families are going to be facing,†she said. “I don’t want to leave a void in the resources but I would like to shift our budget to our priorities and what we are charged to do, which is building that school community starting with educators and counselors — people who are trained in meeting the needs of our kids from a prevention standpoint.â€
Both Foster and Grijalva believe that authority figures within those school communities should be accessible and viewed as a resource, not armed and not in uniform.
TUSD Superintendent Gabriel Trujillo said it’s also the vision of the school district to reduce the presence of law enforcement on campuses, possibly by investing in school monitors, who already have relationships with students, with enhanced training.
Though no decisions have been made on SROs, the discussion will continue on Tuesday, June 23, as the board will consider directing the district to conduct surveys and organize an advisory committee to determine the attitudes, opinions and concerns in the community about the program. Other considerations, including data and national trends, would be taken into account when determining whether to continue, end or modify the SRO program for the upcoming school year.
The ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Police Department is expected to present its vision of community policing and the role of SROs to the board.
Photos: The Bighorn Fire in Coronado National Forest near ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥
Bighorn Fire

Smoke from the Bighorn Fire colors the skies over the eastern slopes of the Santa Catalina and Rincon mountains, Cascabel, Ariz., June 30, 2020.
Bighorn Fire

Smoke from the Bighorn Fire puffs above the cottonwood-willow forest running along the San Pedro River valley, Cascabel, Ariz., June 30, 2020.
Bighorn Fire

Smoke from the Bighorn fire blows Northeast over the Catalina mountains on June 30, 2020 in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, Ariz. Photo taken from E. Speedway Blvd.
Bighorn Fire

Bighorn Fire burn area on Samaniego Ridge in the Santa Catalina Mountains looking west toward Biosphere II on June 27, 2020.
Bighorn Fire

Bulldozer clearing vegetation on the Northeast corner of the Bighorn Fire burning in and around the Santa Catalina Mountains on June 27, 2020.
Bighorn Fire

Crews working the Bighorn Fire near Summerhaven, Ariz., in the Santa Catalina Mountains on June 23, 2020.
Bighorn Fire

West winds push the smoke of the Bighorn Fire as it burns on the southeastern slopes of the Santa Catalina Mountains, ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, Ariz., June 26, 2020. The lights on the antennas of Mount Bigelow are just visible at right through the smoke.
Bighorn Fire

Flames from the Bighorn Fire climb over a ridge near Esperero Canyon lighting up a stand of saguaro as the blaze continues relentlessly to the east on the southern slopes of the Santa Catalina Mountains, ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, Ariz., June 23, 2020. Engine crews were monitoring the fire, which was largely beneficial and no threat to homes.
Bighorn Fire

Flames from the Bighorn Fire rise over a ridge near Esperero Canyon as the blaze moves east on the southern slopes of the Santa Catalina Mountains, ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, Ariz., June 23, 2020.
Bighorn Fire

Smoke from the Bighorn Fire covers the Santa Catalina Mountains with Sentinel Peak seen in the foreground Tuesday morning on June 23, 2020.
Bighorn Fire

From Ventana Canyon, at left, to just north of the end of Houghton Road, the Bighorn Fire stretches along the southern slopes of the Santa Catalina Mountains, ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, Ariz., June 20, 2020.
Bighorn Fire

Traffic on Sabino Canyon Road drives under the glow of he Bighorn Fire as it claims Ventana Canyon on the south slopes of the Santa Catalina Mountains, ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, Ariz., June 19, 2020.
Bighorn Fire

The Bighorn Fire burning in Ventana Canyon in the Santa Catalina Mountains behind downtown ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ on June 18, 2020.
Bighorn Fire

Flames return to the southern slopes as the Bighorn Fire continues to burn through the heart of the Santa Catalina Mountains, ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, Ariz., June 18, 2020.
Bighorn Fire

Radio Ridge, near the top of the Santa Catalinas, is silhouetted by flames from the Bighorn Fire on the southern seen from near, Oracle, Ariz., June 18, 2020.
Bighorn Fire

Passersby use a wildlife exit along Oracle Road to get an elevated view the smoke billowing out of the northwestern portion of the Bighorn Fire, Oro Valley, Ariz., June 17, 2020.
Bighorn Fire

The Bighorn Fire lights up the ridge overlooking Saddlebrooke in the northwestern foothills of the Santa Catalina Mountains, ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, Ariz., June 17, 2020.
Bighorn Fire

Smoke billows from the Santa Catalinas as the Bighorn Fire continues to burn as seen from Honey Bee Canyon Park in Oro Valley, on June 17, 2020.
Bighorn Fire

The same wind whipping the flags outside the Fairfield Inns & Suites on Oracle Road is whipping up the flames and smoke of the Bighorn Fire, Oro Valley, Ariz., June 17, 2020.
Bighorn Fire

Flames break through the smoke as a finger of the Bighorn Fire scorches its way through a canyon on the west side of the Santa Catalina Mountains, ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, Ariz., June 17, 2020.
Bighorn Fire

A stand of pines go up in flames as the Bighorn Fire pushes its way down a slope on the northern side of the Santa Catalina Mountains, ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, Ariz., June 16, 2020.
Bighorn Fire

A DC-10 VLAT makes a slurry drop near the observatory site and along the burnout of the 17 year-old Aspen Fire as crew fight to keep the Bighorn Fire being advancing on Mount Lemmon, ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, Ariz., June 16, 2020.
Bighorn Fire

The Bighorn Fire crest a ridge on the north side of the Santa Catalina Mountains as the day's steady winds push the flames closer to Mount Lemmon, ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, Ariz., June 16, 2020.
Bighorn Fire

A Sikorsky firefighting helicopter drops water along a ridge top as the flames from the Bighorn Fire work their way onto the northern slopes of the Santa Catalina Mountains, ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, Ariz., June 16, 2020.
Bighorn Fire- ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥

A DC-10 VLAT climbs out of the range after making a slurry drop between The Bighorn Fire and Mount Lemmon, ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, Ariz., June 16, 2020.
Bighorn Fire

A fire engine from Three Points Fire District west of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ passes a Pima County Sheriff Auxiliary Volunteer on its way up the Catalina Highway to Mount Lemmon on June 15, 2020. Several local fire districts supply equipment and firefighters to fight the Bighorn Fire.
Bighorn Fire- ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥

Sierra National Forest hotshot crew members talk about wind patterns while preparing for a possible change in direction from the Bighorn Fire on Mount Lemmon in the Santa Catalina Mountains in Ariz. on June 14, 2020.
Bighorn Fire- ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥

A Sierra National Forest hotshot crew member measures the wind while preparing for a possible change in direction from the Bighorn Fire on Mount Lemmon in the Santa Catalina Mountains in Ariz. on June 14, 2020.
Bighorn Fire- ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥

Smoke flows out of canyons in the Santa Catalina Mountains from the Bighorn Fire north of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, Ariz. on June 14, 2020, as seen from Mount Lemmon Trail #5.
Bighorn Fire- ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥

Smoke from the Bighorn Fire burning in canyons in the Santa Catalina Mountains to the west, looms over homes in Summerhaven, Ariz. on June 14, 2020.
Bighorn Fire

A family of four horned owls perch on a utility pole near Tanque Verde and Houghton with the glow from the Bighorn Fire burning in the Santa Catalina Mountains behind them to north, ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, Ariz., June 14, 2020.
Bighorn Fire

The Bighorn Fire's northwestern front looms over homes as it burns into the central Santa Catalina Mountains, Oro Valley, Ariz., June 13, 2020.
Bighorn Fire

A stiff wind out of the southwest pushes the Bighorn Fire into the central Santa Catalina Mountains and toward homes, Oro Valley, Ariz., June 13, 2020.
Bighorn Fire

A Chinook helicopter carrying a water bucket flies north along the Pusch Ridge Wilderness as the Bighorn Fire pushes north-northeast into Romero Canyon east of Catalina State Park in Santa Catalina Mountains on Saturday, June 13, 2020.
Bighorn Fire - ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥

A air tanker flies above the the Bighorn Fire as smoke billows up near the mouth of Romero Canyon, on June 13, 2020.
Bighorn Fire

A DC-10 VLAT drops below the ridge line in his path to make a slurry drop as the battle moves to the northwest and crews work to keep the Bighorn Fire from spreading through Catalina State Park, Oro Valley, Ariz., June 11, 2020.
Bighorn Fire

Two firefighting helicopters maneuver around one another while recharging at a dip site as the battle moves to the north to keep the Bighorn Fire from spreading, Oro Valley, Ariz., June 11, 2020.
Bighorn Fire

An aerial tanker banks out of a smoky gully after making a slurry drop as the battle moves to the northwestern reaches of the Santa Catalina Mountains, Oro Valley, Ariz., June 11, 2020.
Bighorn Fire

A Chinook helicopter drops water on the line of flames advancing through grasslands at the northwestern foot of the Santa Catalinas as crews work to keep the Bighorn Fire from spreading through Catalina State Park, Oro Valley, Ariz., June 11, 2020.
Bighorn Fire

A firefighting Sikorsky helicopter calls it a night and flies for base as sun sets on the the battle to keep the Bighorn Fire from spreading, Oro Valley, Ariz., June 11, 2020.
Bighorn Fire

A McDonnell Douglas MD-80 firefighting air tanker emerges from heavy smoke from the Bighorn Fire burning near Catalina State Park in Oro Valley on June 12, 2020.
Bighorn Fire

People stand along Oracle Road just north of the entrance to Catalina State Park as the Bighorn Fire continues to burn in the Pusch Ridge Wilderness near the park, on June 12, 2020.
Bighorn Fire

People stand along Oracle Road just north of the entrance to Catalina State Park as the Bighorn Fire continues to burn at the base of Pusch Ridge near the park, on June 12, 2020.
Bighorn Fire

A Chinook helicopter drops water on the Bighorn Fire burning in Pusch Ridge, on June 12, 2020.
Bighorn Fire

A line of fire retardant draped along the Santa Catalina Mountains from Sunrise Drive above Cimarron Foothills Estates neighborhood as the Bighorn Fire burns for its seventh day in the western Santa Catalina mountain range, on June 12, 2020.
Bighorn Fire

A Chinook helicopter dumps water on the Bighorn Fire in the front range of the Santa Catalina Mountains in between granite faces already painted with pink fire retardant on Thursday, June 11, 2020.
Bighorn Fire

People stand along Oracle Road just north of the entrance to Catalina State Park as the Bighorn Fire continues to burn in the Pusch Ridge near the park, on June 12, 2020.
Bighorn Fire

People watch from Oracle Road just north of the entrance to Catalina State Park as Chinook helicopters drop water on the Bighorn Fire burning for its seventh day in Pusch Ridge very close to Catalina State Park on June 12, 2020.
Bighorn Fire

The Bighorn Fire inches over a ridge above several homes north of Coronado Drive west of Swan as night falls on the neighborhoods under evacuation and prepare to leave warnings in the Santa Catalina Mountain foothills, ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, Ariz., June 11, 2020.
Bighorn Fire

A DC-10 VLAT makes a last drop in the dying light over the homes in the area between Swan and Alvernon during the daylong struggle to keep the Bighorn Fire out of the neighborhoods of the Santa Catalina Mountain foothills, ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, Ariz., June 11, 2020.
Bighorn Fire

A Sikorsky firefighting helicopter heads back to the dip tank, overflying several homes under a smoking ridge in the upper reaches of the Santa Catalina foothills as crews fight to keep the Bighorn Fire out of several neighborhoods, ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, Ariz., June 11, 2020.
Bighorn Fire

A tanker skims over a ridge while dropping slurry just west of Craycroft during the struggle to keep the Bighorn Fire out of the neighborhoods of the Santa Catalina Mountain foothills, ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, Ariz., June 11, 2020.
Bighorn Fire - ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥

Residents in the Catalina Foothills neighborhood north of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ watch an air tanker drop fire retardant on the Bighorn Fire near Finger Rock Canyon the Santa Catalina Mountains on June 11, 2020. Photo by Rebecca Sasnett / ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥
Bighorn Fire - ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥

A hot shot fire crew fighting the Bighorn Fire hikes on ridge near Finger Rock Canyon in the foothills of the Santa Catalina Mountains north of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, Ariz. on June 11, 2020. Photo by Rebecca Sasnett / ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥
Bighorn Fire - ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥

Pink fire retardant settles over a ridge near Finger Rock Canyon in the Santa Catalina Mountains north of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, Ariz. on June 11, 2020.
Bighorn Fire

A helicopter dumps water along an area to combat the Bighorn Fire in the Santa Catalina Mountains on June 11, 2020.
Bighorn Fire

Qin Chen talks with Tom Lemmons, of the Pima County Sheriff's Office Auxiliary, about "Go" orders given to evacuate her home in the Cobblestone Estates neighborhood due to the Bighorn Fire in the Santa Catalina Mountains on June 11, 2020. Lemmons asked residents if they planned to evacuate or stay in their home.
Bighorn Fire

Keith Lencke of the Blue Ridge Hotshots watches the air attack on the Bighorn Fire in the Cobblestone Estates neighborhood near the Santa Catalina Mountains on June 11, 2020.
Bighorn Fire

People watch the Bighorn Fire from La Encantada at Campbell and Skyline on June 11, 2020.
Bighorn Fire - ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥

A UH-60 firefighting helicopter picks up a bucket of water at Immaculate Heart High School as another helicopter drops water on the Bighorn Fire burning in Pima Canyon in the Santa Catalina Mountains north of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ on June 11, 2020.
Bighorn Fire - ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥

A Chinook helicopter refills with water at Imaculate Heart High School near Magee and Oracle while fighting the Bighorn Fire burning in Pima Canyon in the Santa Catalina Mountains north of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ on June 11, 2020.
Bighorn Fire

A jet tanker drops retardant as it flies through Pontatoc Canyon as wildfire crews continue to fight the Bighorn Fire which has spread along the western side of the Santa Catalinas, on June 11, 2020.
Bighorn Fire

An air tanker drops fire retardant as wildfire crews continue to fight the Bighorn Fire which has spread along the western side of the Santa Catalinas, on June 11, 2020.
Bighorn Fire

A helicopter carries water over an area of the Bighorn Fire in the Santa Catalina Mountains in the Coronado National Forest north of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ on June 10, 2020. The fire has now burned 3,277 acres since it started on Friday, June 5, from a lightning strike in the Pusch Ridge area of the Catalina Mountains.
Bighorn Fire

From alongside Campbell Avenue, a couple gets photos of the Bighorn Fire breaking onto the southern slopes of the Santa Catalina Mountains, ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, Ariz., June 10, 2020.
Bighorn Fire

In the last of the day's light a helicopter makes a last minute water drop on a line of flames from the Bighorn Fire moving down the southern slopes of the Santa Catalina Mountains, ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, Ariz., June 10, 2020.
Bighorn Fire

The Bighorn Fire breaks onto the southern slopes of the Santa Catalina Mountains and burns above a pair of homes in the foothills just west of the Finger Rock Trailhead, ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, Ariz., June 10, 2020.
Bighorn Fire - ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥

A chinook helicopter drops a load of water on the Bighorn Fire as is moves into the top of Finger Rock Canyon and up Mount Kimball, on June 10, 2020.
Bighorn Fire - ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥

A Smokey Bear Hotshot walks along Finger Rock Canyon trail as smoke billows from the Bighorn Fire further up the canyon, on June 10, 2020.
Bighorn Fire - ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥

Adam Hutton with the Smokey Bear Hotshots of Ruidoso, New Mexico tosses away brush being cut near the mouth of Finger Rock Canyon as a precaution against the growing Bighorn Fire being fought in the Santa Catalina Mountain Range, on June 10, 2020.
Bighorn Fire - ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥

Hotshots with Smokey Bear and Blue Ridge talk near the Finger Rock Canyon trailhead as smoke billows from the Bighorn Fire billows in the distance, on June 10, 2020.
Bighorn Fire - ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥

Crew members with the Smokey Bear Hotshots from Ruidoso, New Mexico cut line near the mouth of Finger Rock Canyon as a precaution against the growing Bighorn Fire being fought in the Santa Catalina Mountain Range, on June 10, 2020.
Bighorn Fire - ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥

A driver heads south on Campbell Ave. as smoke billows from the Bighorn Fire in the Santa Catalina Mountains in the Coronado National Forest north of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ on June 10, 2020.
Bighorn Fire - ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥

The Bighorn Fire burning in Pima Canyon and Finger Rock Canyon in the Santa Catalina Mountains, Coronado National Forest north of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, Ariz., June 10, 2020.
Bighorn Fire - ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥

Heavy fuels burning above Finger Rock Canyon produce think black smoke during the Bighorn Fire within the Santa Catalina Mountains in Coronado National Forest north of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ on June 10, 2020.
Bighorn Fire - ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥

Tinder-dry vegetation bursts into flames above during the Bighorn Fire burning above Finger Rock Canyon within the Santa Catalina Mountains in Coronado National Forest north of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ on June 10, 2020.
Bighorn Fire - ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥

The hazy remnants of the Bighorn Fire hang low in Pima Canyon within the Santa Catalina Mountains in Coronado National Forest north of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ on the morning of June 10, 2020.Â
Bighorn Fire - ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥

The Bighorn Fire burns on the East side of beloved hiking area Pima Canyon within the Santa Catalina Mountains in Coronado National Forest north of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, late on June 9, 2020. The lightning-caused fire increased slightly, to 2,556 acres, but is still but still only 10% contained.Â
Bighorn fire

A helicopter flies along the Catalinas on its way to Rose Canyon Lake while fighting the Bighorn fire in Pima Canyon, on June 9, 2020.
Bighorn Fire - ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥

Dark smoke from heavy fuels in the upper elevations of Pima Canyon obscure the rising sun during the Bighorn Fire in the Santa Catalina Mountains in Coronado National Forest north of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ on June 9, 2020.
Bighorn Fire

The Bighorn Fire glows as it burns into Pima Canyon in the western reaches of the Santa Catalina Mountains above ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, Ariz., just after sunset June 8, 2020. During its third day, the lightning sparked wildfire chewed a wind driven path east and higher into the range.
Bighorn Fire - ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥

A helicopter drops a bucket of water on the Bighorn Fire burning into Pima Canyon inside the Coronado National Forest north of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, Ariz. on June 8, 2020. The lighting-caused Bighorn Fire, as of Monday June 8, has spread to over 2,300 acres and is 10% contained, according to Oro Valley Police department via Twitter.
Bighorn Fire - ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥

A long nighttime exposure of fire burning in Pusch Ridge accentuates the flames of the Bighorn Fire burning in the Santa Catalina Mountains in Coronado National Forest north of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ on June 7, 2020.
Bighorn Fire - ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥

A Chinook heavy-lift helicopter with water bucket trailing behind speeds back to the dip tank during the Bighorn Fire burning along Pusch Ridge of the Santa Catalina Mountains in Coronado National Forest north of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ on June 7, 2020.
Bighorn Fire - ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥

Smoke envelops a granite spire during the Bighorn Fire burning along Pusch Ridge of the Santa Catalina Mountains in Coronado National Forest north of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ on June 7, 2020.
Bighorn Fire - ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥

A large air tanker drops fire retardant on the top of Pusch Ridge during the Bighorn Fire burning in the Santa Catalina Mountains in Coronado National Forest north of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ on June 7, 2020.
Bighorn Fire - ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥

At the Bighorn Fire burning along Pusch Ridge of the Santa Catalina Mountains in Coronado National Forest north of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ on June 7, 2020. Photo by Rick Wiley / ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥
Bighorn Fire - ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥

People watch the aerial ballet of helicopters and air tankers on the Bighorn Fire from the safety of Oro Valley Marketplace on June 7, 2020. The Bighorn Fire is burning along Pusch Ridge of the Santa Catalina Mountains in Coronado National Forest north of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ on June 7, 2020. Photo by Rick Wiley / ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥
Bighorn Fire - ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥

A Chinook heavy-lift helicopter trailing a water bucket flies past canyons choked with smoke during the Bighorn Fire burning along Pusch Ridge of the Santa Catalina Mountains in Coronado National Forest north of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ on June 7, 2020. Photo by Rick Wiley / ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥
Bighorn Fire - ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥

A heavy-lift Chinook helicopter takes off from the Bighorn Fire heli-base on Oracle Road during the Bighorn Fire burning along Pusch Ridge of the Santa Catalina Mountains in Coronado National Forest north of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ on June 7, 2020. Photo by Rick Wiley / ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥
Bighorn Fire - ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥

An air tanker drops retardant the Bighorn Fire burning along Pusch Ridge of the Santa Catalina Mountains in Coronado National Forest north of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ on June 7, 2020. Photo by Rick Wiley / ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥
Bighorn Fire - ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥

A lead plane, lower left, guides a large air tanker during a retardant drop at the Bighorn Fire burning along Pusch Ridge of the Santa Catalina Mountains in Coronado National Forest north of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ on June 7, 2020. Photo by Rick Wiley / ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥
Bighorn Fire

A huge DC-10 VLAT (Very Large Air Tanker) pulls up after dropping a load of fire retardant in a neighborhood just south of Catalina State Park during the Bighorn Fire burning along Pusch Ridge in Coronado National Forest north of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ on June 6, 2020.
Bighorn Fire

Smoke from the Bighorn Fire shrouds granite formations of Pusch Ridge in Coronado National Forest north of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ on June 6, 2020.
Bighorn Fire

A heavy-lift helicopter drops water on the line of the Bighorn Fire burning along Pusch Ridge in Coronado National Forest north of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ on June 6, 2020.
Bighorn Fire

A Sikorsky heavy-lift helicopter finishes a drop at dusk on the Bighorn Fire burning along Pusch Ridge in Coronado National Forest north of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ on June 6, 2020.
Bighorn Fire

The Huey helicopter passes along a ridge on the Bighorn Fire burning along Pusch Ridge in Coronado National Forest north of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ on June 6, 2020.
Bighorn Fire

Flames fanned by canyon winds emerge from the smoke during the Bighorn Fire burning along Pusch Ridge in Coronado National Forest north of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ on June 6, 2020.
Bighorn Fire

Smoke shrouds granite formations the Bighorn Fire burning along Pusch Ridge in Coronado National Forest north of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ on June 6, 2020.
Bighorn Fire

The Bighorn Fire burning about La Reserve along Pusch Ridge in Coronado National Forest north of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ on June 6, 2020.
Bighorn Fire

A DC-10 Very Large Air Tanker drops on the Bighorn Fire burning along Pusch Ridge in Coronado National Forest north of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ on June 6, 2020.
Bighorn Fire

A heavy lift helicopter passes through the Bighorn Fire burning along Pusch Ridge in Coronado National Forest north of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ on June 6, 2020.
Bighorn Fire

A DC-10 Very Large Air Tanker drops thousands of gallons of retardant at the base of the Bighorn Fire burning above La Reseve along Pusch Ridge in Coronado National Forest north of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ on June 6, 2020.
Bighorn Fire

The Bighorn Fire burning along Pusch Ridge in Coronado National Forest north of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ on June 6, 2020.
Bighorn Fire

An air tanker drops fire retardant to create a fire line behind homes (bottom center) in Or Valley during the Bighorn Fire burning along Pusch Ridge in Coronado National Forest north of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ on June 6, 2020.
Bighorn Fire

Helicopters drop water on the Bighorn Fire burning along Pusch Ridge in Coronado National Forest north of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ on June 6, 2020.
Bighorn Fire

Helicopters drop water on the Bighorn Fire burning along Pusch Ridge in Coronado National Forest north of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ on June 6, 2020.
Bighorn Fire

Helicopters drop water on the Bighorn Fire burning along Pusch Ridge in Coronado National Forest north of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ on June 6, 2020.
Bighorn Fire

The Bighorn Fire burning along Pusch Ridge in Coronado National Forest north of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ on June 6, 2020.
Bighorn Fire near Oro Valley

A fire is burning in the Pusch Ridge area east of Oro Valley on Saturday. The fire was started by lightning for storms that moved through Friday night. Ground crews and helicopters are fighting the blaze, which is not spreading rapidly.