WICKENBURG, AZ (AZFamily) — A fast-moving wildfire called the Rose Fire has caused evacuations south of Wickenburg, a freeway closure and destroyed homes, officials said on Wednesday.
People in the Rio Vista Hills community along the U.S. 60 were told to leave their homes Wednesday evening. Tiffany Davila with the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management said about 100 homes were threatened.
Just before midnight, some residents were allowed return to their homes, except for people living between the rest area and the Hassayampa River Preserve on the U.S. 60.
The community of Turtleback Mountain Ranch has been told to get ready to evacuate, the Wickenburg Police Department said. They also said the Red Cross is heading there to set up an evacuation center at the Wickenburg Community Center.
A 5-mile stretch of the U.S. 60 is shut down between 288th Avenue and State Route 74, between Wickenburg and Morristown.
Davila said the flames have jumped the U.S. 60 freeway, so it’s burning on both sides, with most of the activity on the northwest and southwest sides.
The wildfire started on Wednesday afternoon in the Hassayampa River bottom and has burned roughly 200 acres, police said. It’s burning salt cedar, grass and brush.
Davila said crews have a heavy attack from the air and on the ground. A dozer arrived around 6 p.m. to help protect homes.
The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office said four homes have been destroyed. There have not been reports yet on any injuries.
Davila said some of the retardant has been ineffective, and hot and dry wearther conditions aren’t helping
It’s unclear what sparked the flames.
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