Badger Springs Fire near Sunset Point burns over 2,500 acres, 80% contained

PHOENIX — The brush fire that closed Interstate 17 near Sunset Point on Friday has grown to over 2,500 acres as of Saturday night, according to the Bureau of Land Management.

According to officials, the Badger Springs Fire was 80 percent contained by Monday morning.

#BadgerSpringsFire EVENING UPDATE
Little to no smoke visible. Firefighters will continue to hold, mop up and patrol containment lines. Complete update posted to InciWeb: https://t.co/YRKr1NBoPq

— BLM Arizona Fire (@BLMAZFire) June 23, 2019

The I-17 is now open, but officials say to expect delays.

Heavy traffic and smoke from the
Badger Springs Fire are still creating northbound delays on Interstate 17, but the delay is easing quite a bit. (It had been to Black Canyon City earlier.) Allow for lots of extra travel time this weekend.#aztraffic pic.twitter.com/s2d20rg20l

— Arizona DOT (@ArizonaDOT) June 22, 2019

However, there are two road closures: Badger Springs Trailhead and Bloody Basin Road east of I-17.

NOW: Air tanker brought in to battle Badger Springs fire near Sunset Point https://t.co/Iam4b6ZF8x #abc15 pic.twitter.com/CZH75SolNe

— ABC15 Arizona (@abc15) June 22, 2019

While it is currently unknown exactly how the fire started, officials say that it is human caused.

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