Some evacuations lifted Monday for Crooks Fire near Prescott

PHOENIX – Some residents who were forced to evacuate because of the Crooks Fire near Prescott were cleared to return home Monday afternoon, authorities said.

The Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office said the “GO” status would revert to “SET” at 3 p.m. for residences in the northern part of the Walker community.

Evacuees will have to meet with a sheriff’s deputy at a checkpoint on Walker Road at the south entrance of Lynx Lake to get a pass to enter the area.

“As we know, the fire is not completely contained so fire personnel and equipment will still be working in the area and need to be able to maneuver freely, so we ask that residents try to limit the traffic around the area to allow them to get this fire out,” YCSO said in a Facebook post Sunday night after a community meeting.

The evacuation orders issued last week for the rest of Walker plus Breezy Pines, Potato Patch, Lookout Mountain, Kamp Kipa, Mountain Pine Acres and Mount Tritle remain in effect.

The Crooks Fire started on April 18 about 15 miles south of Prescott, near Mount Union. It had consumed nearly 6,500 acres and was 16% contained as of Monday evening, according to InciWeb.

The cause of the Crooks Fire has not yet been determined.

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