Closures, evacuations as Sears Fire grows to 6,800 acres north of Phoenix
Sep 26, 2020, 5:38 PM | Updated: 5:51 pm
(Tonto National Forest photo)
(Tonto National Forest photo)
PHOENIX — Some Camp Creek residents evacuated from the area as the Sears Fire grew to 6,800 acres on Saturday afternoon.
The Tonto National Forest reported that the fire broke out northeast of Phoenix on Friday afternoon and reached 450 acres by the afternoon.
On Saturday at noon, a closure order was put into place to restrict trails in the area and cut off access to Bartlett Lake Road, including the lake and the marina.
Restrictions also included Horseshoe Lake and Seven Springs recreation sites.
No injuries or structure damage had been reported from the wildfire as of Saturday.
#TontoNF implements area closure due to Sears Fire. This closure order will be effective on Sept. 26, 2020, at 12 p.m., and shall remain in effect until further notice. pic.twitter.com/K9Ui2QR0NT
— Tonto NF (@TontoForest) September 26, 2020
Airtankers and helicopters were used to dump retardant and water on the fire on Saturday.
There are currently 10 engines, 1 hand crew, 1 air attack plane, five total tankers and two helicopters. Additional resources have been ordered.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
