Around 7:00 P.M. EST today, Fire Officials in the area advised that they are evacuating the area of U.S. Route 60 near milepost 115 between Wickenburg and Morristown due to a wildfire. The fire is located Northwest of Phoenix in Yavapai County Arizona.
Fire officials advised they are using their APS squad on the South Side of U.S. Route 60 near milepost 115 as there are several houses in danger of catching fire. They are currently attempting to prevent the houses from catching fire. At least 1 house is on fire as of 7:30 P.M. as a result of the wildfire.
Fire Officials are asking that people remain away from the area while they attempt to extinguish the fire.
Update: 06/13/2024 12:00 A.M.
Officials from the Wickenburg Police Department, Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office, and the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management has released additional information about the fire south of Wickenburg on Wednesday 06/12/2024.
According to Tiffany Davila from the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management, residents of Rio Vista Hills community near U.S. Route 60 have been evacuated from their homes. 100 houses were threatened by the fire and unfortunately 4 houses have been lost due to the fire. As of today, no injuries have been reported.
Both the Repose Heights and Turtleback Mountain Ranch residents are on a “pre-evacuation status”. Residents who have evacuated and require assistance or somewhere to go should travel to the Wickenburg Community Center near Apache Street.
On Wednesday around 5 p.m the first started around the Hassayampa River bottom. It was so intense that it burned 100 acres of brush, grass, and salt cedar, by 6 P.M.. The fire called the Rose fire, then jumped from the south of U.S. 60 to the north or U.S. 60 and then headed east burning about 200 acres as of now. U.S. 60 was closed 10 minutes south of Wickenburg close to Allah to the south near Morristown. This is between 288th Avenue and state Route 74. It is unknown when U.S. 60 will open.
Both ground and air crews are fighting the intense blaze. Fire officials have not yet determined what started the fire. Further investigations will be conducted when the fire is extinguished.
