Karmactive StaffThe wooden Oxbow Bridge near Cibola burned and collapsed August 1, cutting a key shortcut between rural Arizona communities and sending debris into the Colorado River. Boaters now face navigational hazards while commuters deal with longer routes.
“It adds probably a 20-minute time frame driving around through the different ways to try to get over to that side,” said Carissa Rosenfeld, a local and member of Friends of Cibola National Wildlife Refuge. La Paz County Supervisor Holly Irwin stated the county is “seeking state emergency funds” and making “buoy marking a priority” to warn river users.
The fire, referred to on WatchDuty as “Oxbow 2” and estimated at ~5 acres, burned in an area managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). Fire activity remains under Stage 2 restrictions on State Trust and BLM-managed lands within La Paz and Yuma Counties per Arizona’s Department of Forestry and Fire Management – limiting any open flames, smoking outside vehicles, or operating combustion engines in wildland areas.
For drivers, State Route 78 at Palo Verde remains the primary crossing. Caltrans District 11 reports no current restrictions on this route. The burned wooden bridge was off SR-78; SR-78 remains open for travelers checking current conditions.
Floating debris creates hazards downstream in what locals know as an active recreation corridor. The BLM manages the Oxbow Recreation & Wildlife Area where the bridge stood, while the Bureau of Reclamation manages Lower Colorado River operations and provides boating resources; BLM has posted the hazard warning for this site.
This marks the second fire incident requiring safety measures in this exact area. BLM previously closed the Oxbow Recreation Area during May’s Broadway Fire, showing the corridor’s vulnerability during fire season, a growing concern in waterways throughout the region.
Multiple agencies responded including BLM Fire Program (which coordinates wildfire response on federal lands), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (managing adjacent Cibola National Wildlife Refuge waters), Bureau of Reclamation, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Imperial County Fire Department, and local authorities. The fire response involves coordination similar to that seen in other environmental emergencies.Boaters should check for temporary notices with USFWS Cibola National Wildlife Refuge and the BLM Oxbow Recreation page before launching. River ecosystem impacts could potentially affect vulnerable riparian plant species and wildlife in the area. The cause of the fire remains under investigation by federal fire authorities.
