The collapse of a key bridge has left the residents of Cibola, a small community in western Arizona, grappling with isolation. A wildfire that swept through the area earlier this month led to the destruction of the bridge, prompting La Paz County to declare a state of emergency.
Firefighters from the Bureau of Land Management were actively managing a blaze in the Oxbow Recreation and Wildlife Area on August 1st when the 5-acre fire reached the Oxbow Bridge. Consequently, the bridge succumbed to the flames and fell into the Colorado River, further complicating access to the region.
The county’s emergency declaration highlights the urgency of the situation, emphasizing the vital role the bridge played in the community’s connectivity and the hazards posed by the remaining debris.
Carissa Rosenfeld from the nonprofit organization Friends of Cibola NWR commented on the dire situation: “So not only are you not able to drive across the bridge because the bridge isn’t there anymore, you’re not able to pass by boat either because there’s still debris in the water.”
Various agencies, including the Bureau of Land Management and the Arizona Department of Transportation, are currently evaluating the extent of the damage.
Rosenfeld also noted the bridge’s critical role in the daily lives of the residents, mentioning, “Not only does it provide transportation to other areas like Yuma where people go for medical appointments or grocery shopping, but it also provides access to those that are coming from Yuma to visit the Cibola National Wildlife Refuge and Cibola area.”
