- The Hart Mine Road Bridge fell into the Colorado River on Tuesday, July 28.
- Federal officials believe a recent fire weakened the structure before it collapsed.
- No injuries were reported, and several agencies closed the area to the public.
Wednesday, July 29, 2026 — A small bridge that carries farmers and refuge workers across the Colorado River on the Arizona-California border collapsed on Tuesday, July 28. Federal officials say a recent fire is believed to have weakened it. No one was hurt, but parts of the structure fell into the river, and several agencies closed the area while crews assess the damage.
A Bridge Down in the Water.
The Hart Mine Road Bridge, also known as the Cibola Bridge, sits near the Cibola National Wildlife Refuge. The Bureau of Reclamation
, which owns the bridge, said the collapse followed structural damage believed to have been caused by a recent fire. Portions of the bridge are now sitting in the Colorado River.
Five federal agencies are coordinating the response at the site: the Bureau of Reclamation, the Bureau of Land Management, the U.S. Wildland Fire Service, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Crews have started installing floating buoy barriers and signs to keep vehicles, walkers, and boaters out. River safety teams are marking the zones where dangerous debris has spread so people on the water can steer clear.
“We are asking all pedestrians, motorists, and boaters to avoid the area at this time. With debris in the water and ongoing assessments underway, staying clear of the site is essential for everyone’s safety,” said Chris Wallis, chief of the Resource Management Office at the Bureau of Reclamation.
The Cibola Bridge is small and is used mainly for farm-to-farm travel and to reach essential services at the refuge.
The Island Fire Still Burning.
The damage traces back to the Island Fire, which the U.S. Wildland Fire Service reported on Saturday, July 25, at about 9 p.m. The fire is burning roughly 25 miles southwest of Ehrenberg, Arizona, inside the Cibola National Wildlife Refuge. Its cause is still under investigation.
As of Tuesday evening, the fire had spread across about 3,145 acres and was 65 percent contained. That figure is smaller than earlier estimates, which fire managers say is the result of more accurate mapping rather than the fire shrinking. About 85 people were assigned to the effort, working through brush in extreme heat and gusty winds.
Firefighters are working to suppress the fire and to protect life, property, and natural and cultural resources.
What Makes Cibola Refuge Special.
The Cibola National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1964. It was created as mitigation after the Bureau of Reclamation straightened, channelized, and armored the banks of the Colorado River to prevent flooding. The 18,444-acre refuge was set aside to protect and rebuild the marshes, backwaters, and slow river bends that once formed naturally when the river flooded. Those wetlands historically gave migratory waterfowl and other wildlife a place to spend the winter.
Closures and Safety.
The refuge’s Island Management Unit is closed to the public, and Hart Mine Road is closed at the refuge boundary. With the bridge down and debris in the water, officials are urging pedestrians, motorists, and boaters to stay away so firefighters can work safely.
For updates on the status of the bridge, the Bureau of Reclamation directed questions to Chris Wallis at the Resource Management Office at (928) 343-8215.
Image via the Bureau of Reclamation Press Release: The Hart Mine Road Bridge collapsed following structural damage believed to have been caused by a recent fire. Photo credit: USBR
