Despite hot and dry conditions, firefighters battling the Canelo Fire that has burned 4,200 acres are feeling “fortunate and confident” following a weather report Thursday morning predicting minimal wind. � 

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“That favors our firefighters today,” said Tom McCampbell spokesperson for the Eastern Arizona Incident Management Team, which took over command of the fire from the Coronado National Forest at 6 p.m. on Wednesday night. The blaze broke out Tuesday afternoon and is 15 percent contained.� 

“We’ve got seven crews, eight engines and three water tankers on scene today and air support as needed including a couple of fixed wing aircraft and one helicopter,” McCampbell said on Thursday morning. “The real focus today is on continuing to get a cold line around this fire,” he added. According to the National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG), a “cold line” is a fire line that has been controlled.

McCambell said the condition of a West Gate subdivision resident who suffered third-degree burns when his home was overrun by the fire, has been upgraded to “stable.” “We understand that he’s resting comfortably in the hospital,” he said. The resident was airlifted to Maricopa Burn Center in Phoenix, officials said.

Early Wednesday morning, 165 Southern Arizona firefighters were fighting the fire with 19 water tenders, three helicopters and six air tankers, said Kevin Irvine, director of emergency services for Santa Cruz County.

Cimarron Road at State Route 83 was closed until further notice, said Scott Altherr, county director of public works.

The Red Cross from Tucson opened a shelter at Elgin School Wednesday, but no evacuated people showed up.

The human-caused Canelo Fire is under investigation, officials said.

In addition to the Canelo Fire, firefighters said Wednesday night that they had “largely controlled” the 20-acre A-Bar Fire, that erupted seven miles south of the Canelo Fire. � 

Patagonia Volunteer Fire and Rescue also reported that it fought a 20-acre wildfire on Wednesday that broke out in School Canyon about three miles south of Parker Lake. It was the second fire in the area within a week.� 

A 3/4-acre fire was also reported on Thursday near Miller Peak at the south end of the Huachuca Mountains. By 11 a.m., Coronado National Forest Service firefighters had extinguished the human-caused blaze.

(Denise Holley contributed to this report.)