Crown King residents told to prepare for an evacuation
PRESCOTT, Ariz. (AP) — Evacuations were ordered Sunday afternoon for three towns near Crown King due to a wildfire that had grown to 2,500 acres Sunday south of the Prescott National Forest.
It’s one of four wildfires currently burning around the state.
Arizona Bureau of Land Management officials said evacuation orders were issued shortly after 1 p.m. for Minnehaha, Fort Misery and Horsethief Basin.
They said residents of Crown King should begin preparing in the event of an evacuation order is issued.
The wildfire started Saturday and is burning about 20 miles northeast of Wickenburg and eight miles southwest of Crown King.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Meanwhile, authorities said a wind-whipped wildfire in rugged terrain four miles east of Bartlett Lake in the Tonto National Forest was at 1,000 acres Sunday.
Planes have dropped water and fire retardant around the east and south perimeter and a hotshot crew was flown in to help battle the blaze.
A small wildfire reported Saturday evening has now charred about 150 acres in Florence. It’s burning in salt cedar along the Gila River.
Authorities said a human-caused wildfire that started Friday northeast of Globe has grown to 2,560 acres but was 20% contained by Saturday night.
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