Wildfires in southern Arizona force evacuations in small town

PHOENIX — Two wildfires in southern Arizona have forced evacuation of at least one small town, authorities said.

By Thursday morning, a fire near Sonoita and another near Fort Bowie National Historic Site had gobbled up more than 3,400 acres and residents in Dragoon had been forced out. The Smith Fire burning close to Sonoita has destroyed close to 1,800 acres.

High winds pushed the Bowie Fire, aka Lizard Fire to about 2,200 acres. The Cochise County Sheriff’s Office posted on Facebook the fire had “good containment.”

A lightning strike Wednesday evening caused that fire.

The Smith Fire, which started Wednesday afternoon, was 75 percent contained.

Authorities said they have no reports of structures being lost.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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