The latest on the East Desert Fire
Officials say high winds caused a brush fire in a town near Phoenix to nearly quadruple in size and force the evacuation of 132 homes. No homes had burned Monday in Cave Creek, but the fire came within 100 yards of some houses. (Associated Press)
CAVE CREEK, Ariz. (AP) — Firefighters have managed to contain much of a big wildfire near Phoenix that was burning across 2 square miles (6 square kilometers) and prompted the evacuation of more than 100 homes, officials said Tuesday.
InciWeb: East Desert Fire
No homes burned in the town of Cave Creek but the fire that burned grass, brush and desert vegetation came within 100 yards (91 meters) of some residences on Monday as the blaze quadrupled in size.
Crews made significant progress fighting the fire on Monday and it was 50 percent contained by Tuesday, said Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management spokeswoman Tiffany Davila.
Evacuation orders remained in place because authorities were leery that gusty winds could fan the fire, Davila said.
Crews were building containment lines and clearing brush and aircraft have dropped water and retardant on the blaze.
The fire started Sunday and authorities have said it was was human-caused with the specific cause under investigation.
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