Arizona State Forestry attacks growing brush fire south of Phoenix

PHOENIX — A brush fire burning south of Phoenix has grown to more than 200 acres, Arizona State Forestry officials said Thursday.

The agency said the River Fire was eating up land along the Picacho Reservoir near Coolidge in Pinal County. Officials said neither structures nor roads were in danger of catching fire.

A crew of  80 to 100 firefighters were working the blaze, fueled by salt cedar.

#RiverFire Update: 200+ acres w/ 40% containment. 80-100 personnel assigned to fire. #PicachoReservoir #PinalCounty. #AZFire #azwx

— AZ State Forestry (@azstateforestry) February 1, 2018

The fire, which ignited Wednesday, doubled in size from 15 acres to 30 acres in less than two hours in the afternoon, then leapt to 110 acres overnight.

Picacho Reservoir is about 60 miles from downtown Phoenix.

Smoke was also visible in Eloy.

The cause was under investigation.

No other details were immediately available.

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