ARIZONA NEWS

Last remaining Backbone Fire road closure lifted as containment grows

Jun 29, 2021, 12:36 PM | Updated: 9:38 pm
(InciWeb Photo)...
(InciWeb Photo)
(InciWeb Photo)

Click here to find the most recent coverage of Arizona’s wildfires from KTAR News.

PHOENIX — The last remaining highway closure related to the Backbone Fire near Strawberry was lifted Tuesday as crews continued to gain control of the situation, authorities said.

State Route 260 is now open between Camp Verde and State Route 87, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation.

Growth of the lightning-caused Backbone Fire, which started about 12 miles west of Pine and Strawberry on June 16, has been minimal in recent days. The footprint remained at 40,855 acres, with containment increasing from 64% to 76% as of Tuesday evening, according to InciWeb.

Just over 315 personnel were still working on clean-up and containment activities.

Evacuation orders for residents of Strawberry and Pine were lifted over the weekend.

With dry conditions continuing to create a high risk for wildfires, closures also have been enacted at most of the state’s national forests.

We want to hear from you.

Have a story idea or tip? Pass it along to the KTAR News team here.

(Facebook Photo/Backbone Fire Information) (Facebook Photo/Backbone Fire Information) (InciWeb Photo) (Facebook Photo/Backbone Fire Information) (Twitter Photo/ADOT) (Twitter Photo/ADOT) (Twitter Photo/ADOT) (InciWeb Photo) (Facebook Photo/Backbone Fire Information) (InciWeb Photo) (KTAR News Photo/Dan Beach) (KTAR News Photo/Dan Beach) (KTAR News Photo/Dan Beach)

Arizona News

(DEA Photo)...
Taylor Tasler

Valley students taking peer-to-peer approach when raising awareness for fentanyl

A group of students at Valley schools are working together to raise awareness of the deadly effects of fentanyl.
7 hours ago
(Facebook Photo/US Border Patrol, Tucson Sector)...
KTAR.com

Man pleads guilty to assaulting 2 Border Patrol agents in Arizona in 2022

A Mexican citizen pleaded guilty last week to the assault of two Arizona Border Patrol agents last year, authorities said.
7 hours ago
(Facebook Photo/The Offspring)...
KTAR.com

Offspring with Simple Plan, Sum 41, coming to Phoenix for summer tour

American rock band The Offspring announced Monday it will stop by the Valley on its 24-city Let The Bad Times Roll Tour this summer.
7 hours ago
(Banner Health Photo)...
SuElen Rivera

Banner Health announces plan to open Scottsdale hospital in 2026

Banner Health announced Monday it plans to open a full-service hospital and cancer care center in the northeast Valley.
7 hours ago
(Maricopa County Sheriff's Office Photo)...
KTAR.com

Man arrested after allegedly attempting to kidnap woman at Phoenix airport

A man was arrested over the weekend for allegedly attempting to kidnap a woman from a Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport parking garage.
1 day ago
(Photo: OCD & Anxiety Treatment Center)...
Sponsored Content by OCD & Anxiety Treatment Center

Here's what you need to know about OCD and where to find help

It's fair to say that most people know what obsessive-compulsive spectrum disorders generally are, but there's a lot more information than meets the eye about a mental health diagnosis that affects about one in every 100 adults in the United States.

Sponsored Articles

(Photo: OCD & Anxiety Treatment Center)...

Here’s what you need to know about OCD and where to find help

It's fair to say that most people know what obsessive-compulsive spectrum disorders generally are, but there's a lot more information than meets the eye about a mental health diagnosis that affects about one in every 100 adults in the United States.
(Desert Institute for Spine Care photo)...
DESERT INSTITUTE FOR SPINE CARE

Why DISC is world renowned for back and neck pain treatments

Fifty percent of Americans and 90% of people at least 50 years old have some level of degenerative disc disease.
(Photo via MLB's Arizona Fall League / Twitter)...
Arizona Fall League

Top prospects to watch at this year’s Arizona Fall League

One of the most exciting elements of the MLB offseason is the Arizona Fall League, which began its 30th season Monday.
Last remaining Backbone Fire road closure lifted as containment grows