Watermelon Fire in northern Arizona closes I-17 for several hours

PHOENIX — A wildfire in northern Arizona closed Interstate 17 in both directions for several hours Sunday, authorities said.

The highway shut down north of Sedona sometime after 3 p.m., Arizona Department of Transportation officials said.

The southbound lanes were closed at milepost 306, while the northbound lanes were closed at milepost 299, just north of State Route 179.

Traffic was running in both directions again before 9 p.m.

*UPDATE*

I-17 is OPEN in both directions north of SR 179, however the left lane is closed in both directions due to the ongoing #WatermelonFire.

Watch for delays in both directions.

Earlier delays on SR 89A are starting to ease, but watch for alternating traffic.#aztraffic pic.twitter.com/iPPasMvdfk

— Arizona DOT (@ArizonaDOT) June 6, 2022

The blaze, called the Watermelon Fire, started around 2:50 p.m. near milepost 303, 20 miles south of Munds Park, from an RV that caught on fire and spread to Coconino National Forest land.

It grew to 25-30 acres before firefighters stopped forward progress on the fire.

About 70 personnel, including seven fire engines, a battalion, a Hotshow crew, two fire prevention patrol units and a fuels crew, were on scene fighting the blaze.

Related

Arizona utilities shatter energy demand records amid extreme heatInvestigation underway after 2 people were found dead inside Phoenix apartmentOut-of-state fugitive arrested after fatal stabbing in PhoenixPeoria Unified adds new hotline for students to report questionable behaviorArizona governor hopeful Andy Biggs says more funding doesn’t mean better schoolsAndy Biggs thinks Arizona needs to take better care of state troopers