CAVE CREEK, Ariz. (AP) — A brush fire is burning in the town of Cave Creek, destroying nearly a dozen structures and leading to a mandatory evacuation order.
The fire was reported Saturday afternoon and is estimated to be around 750 acres, state forestry officials said. Ten structures have burned and more, including residences, are threatened. It was not immediately known how many homes were impacted by the order.
Maricopa County sent out an evacuation alert around 1:45 p.m. According to the alert, residents south of Tonto National Forest, north of Cave Creek Road, east of New River Road and west of Scopa Trail must leave their homes. Sheriff’s deputies were assisting with evacuations.
The American Red Cross has set up a relief station at Cactus Shadows High School.
So far, the blaze has zero containment. Rural Metro Fire crews are trying to get control of the fire. Crews from Daisy Mountain and Phoenix are helping.
Tiffany Davila, spokeswoman for Arizona State Forestry and Fire Management, said the fire is growing in the north and the west. Firefighters are facing strong winds and dry vegetation.
This comes a week after crews contained another brush fire near Cave Creek, about 33 miles (53 kilometers) north of Phoenix.
More than 130 homes were temporarily evacuated as a precaution with some of the homes less than a mile from the fire.
That fire was believed to be human-caused.
