Brush fire closes both directions of Interstate 17 north of Phoenix

PHOENIX —  A brush fire closed both directions of Interstate 17 north of Phoenix on Monday afternoon for about two hours, authorities said.

The fire, located between Bumble Bee and Black Canyon City, first shut down northbound I-17 at about 2:45 p.m. before the southbound lanes were closed around 3 p.m.

The Arizona Department of Transportation said both sides of the highway were reopened at about 5 p.m.

*** NEW UPDATE, 3 p.m.:

The wildfire has now closed I-17 southbound at milepost 256.

Northbound lanes remain closed at milepost 250. #aztraffic #i17 https://t.co/Q24aU8kNNS

— Arizona DOT (@ArizonaDOT) November 2, 2020

Motorists were advised to use alternate routes such as U.S. 60 and State Route 87 to avoid the closure.

Wildfires have burned more than 900,000 acres in Arizona this year.

Related

City of Chandler to hold public meeting on planned utility rate increaseArizona food bank receives 1st delivery as part of egg price-fixing settlementWhich Arizona cities, counties, law enforcement agencies have stopped using Flock cameras?2 Phoenix officers put on leave after allegedly using force, not activating body cams during stopJonas Brothers to bring The Burning Up Tour All Over Again to Glendale in NovemberRaytheon lands $22.9B Tomahawk missile contract