Brush fire closes Interstate 17 in both directions near Sunset Point

PHOENIX — A brush fire closed Interstate 17 about an hour north of Phoenix in both directions for several hours on Wednesday.

The fire near the Sunset Point area started causing northbound delays at around 4:30 p.m., according to the Arizona Department of Transportation.

By 5:30 p.m., a three-mile stretch of the southbound I-17 was closed near Badger Springs because of the growing flames.

THIS IS THE FIRE that has closed I-17 NB at Sunset Point and I-17 SB at SR 69. We have no estimated fime for reopening. #aztraffic pic.twitter.com/1MHbKg9cNR

— Arizona DOT (@ArizonaDOT) August 22, 2019

Drivers were being diverted away from the highway and being asked to take alternate routes instead of the I-17, which connects Phoenix and Flagstaff.

There was no estimated time for the highway’s reopening, according to ADOT.

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