Camelback Fire shuts down Interstate 10 in Tonopah for hours
Jun 28, 2020, 6:24 PM | Updated: Jul 11, 2024, 4:17 pm
(Pexels Photo)
PHOENIX — A fire west of Phoenix forced the closure of Interstate 10 for several hours Sunday.
According to the Arizona Department of Transportation, the Camelback Fire in Tonopah shut down the freeway at 411th Avenue from around 4:45 p.m. until around 9 p.m.
I-10 WB, MP 94 (411th Avenue in Tonopah): The freeway is closed due to a brush fire. No estimated time to reopen.#I10 #Aztraffic pic.twitter.com/lTEaNg4xHI
— Arizona DOT (@ArizonaDOT) June 29, 2020
No structures were threatened.
According to the Arizona State Forestry, firefighters were able to stop the blaze’s forward progress on Sunday night.
The fire had quickly burned more than 80 acres as of late Sunday afternoon, officials said.
Multiple engines, a helicopter, a hand crew and an air attack were all assigned to fight the blaze, Arizona Forestry official Tiffany Davila told KTAR News 92.3 FM. Multiple agencies, including the Bureau of Land Management are assisting with the fire.
In addition, another fire — the Burnt Well Fire — has sparked about eight miles west near milepost 83. It was at 30 acres consumed as of Sunday afternoon.
ADOT advises motorists to detour using the US 60 or State Route 85 to avoid the area.
To avoid the I-10 WB brushfire, your best bet is either US 60 WB through Wickenburg, or SR 85 to I-8 WB, then US 95 NB to I-10.
There is NO estimated time to reopen I-10 WB.#Aztraffic pic.twitter.com/vcbKkVj8ME
— Arizona DOT (@ArizonaDOT) June 29, 2020
The cause of the fires is under investigation.
KTAR News’ Julie Levin contributed to this report.