Firefighters gain upper hand on Verde Fire northeast of Scottsdale
Aug 8, 2019, 2:20 PM | Updated: Aug 9, 2019, 12:53 pm
(InciWeb Photo)
(InciWeb Photo)
PHOENIX – Firefighters expect to see full containment by Friday night on a fire burning all week about 15 miles northeast of Scottsdale.
Containment of the Verde Fire reached 69% on Thursday morning, and command returned to local authorities.
Containment increased to 76% by Friday morning with full containment expected that evening, according to what Tonto National Forest spokeswoman Carrie Templin said would be the final incident update.
The fire, which was sparked by lightning on Saturday evening, has consumed about 2,730 acres but hasn’t grown significantly since Tuesday, when a Type 3 incident team arrived on the scene to take command.
The closure in effect on the service roads west of State Highway 87 in the area of the fire was scheduled to be lifted at 7 a.m. Saturday.
Firefighters will continue working to secure the perimeter. Smoke or ash might still be seen in the area.
The fire consumed grass and brush in a remote area about half a mile east of the Fort McDowell Reservation and 3 miles northeast of the Rio Verde community.
Stage 1 fire restrictions remain in effect throughout the Tonto National Forest.
