CNN
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Residents of Maricopa County, Arizona, were able to return home Sunday after evacuation orders were lowered for areas affected by the ongoing Boulder View Fire in the Sonoran Desert. However, state fire officials say some people should continue to remain vigilant.
The Boulderview Fire, which broke out Thursday east of Carefree in Arizona’s most populous county, has burned to the ground. Over 3,700 acres It was 63% contained as of Sunday night, according to Sunday’s InciWeb update.
“Containment on the east side of the fire has been increased after the fire reached the area where the Wildcat Fire burned and stopped its spread,” according to InciWeb’s Sunday update. The Wildcat Fire, which is now completely extinguished, broke out in May and was completely destroyed. Over 14,000 acres.
Crews will continue structure protection efforts Sunday and will focus on “improving fire lines” around the Boulderview fire, according to an update.
Meanwhile, fire authorities announced that the restrictions had been lifted. Evacuation status In the affected areas, residents should follow state directives to be aware of hazardous conditions; “Ready, set, go!” program.
“As of 5 p.m. Saturday, areas in GO evacuation status were downgraded to SET, while areas in SET status were reverted to READY status as of 5 p.m. Saturday,” Sunday’s update said, before and during the evacuation. He mentioned three levels of preparedness used to guide residents.
“Ready” status means ready, aware of the dangermeanwhile ‘Set’ encourages residents to be alert to significant dangers in their area and consider voluntarily evacuating.. According to the Arizona Emergency Information Network, “Go” urges people to evacuate from imminent life-threatening danger.
The Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management announced Thursday night that evacuation orders were issued for residents along the southeast side of the fire. social media posts. The ministry announced Thursday that at least 60 homes had been evacuated. About 4.5 million people I live in the county.
“I’m definitely going to panic right away,” the Scottsdale woman said. CNN affiliate station KPNX. “We made a plan. We had a plan. We have a lot of friends in the area who have trucks and trailers ready, so we’re ready to go.”
The woman, along with another resident, was safely evacuated to another property in north Scottsdale where she kept mares, pigs, goats and cats. They said they were watching from a safe location and were “nervous” when they saw “orange flames spreading to the north side of the house.”
The fires are raging as the country deals with yet another hot summer. It is the deadliest form of weather in the world and is the driver of climate change. Increased chance of wildfires And destructive. And as the planet warms due to fossil fuel pollution, the heat will only increase. more often And intense.
“Now that we’ve evacuated the horses, we’ll bring in more horses. We’ll do it all night if we have to,” resident Chris Hull said. CNN affiliate station KNXV He was refueling his truck to transport more livestock. “Whatever you need.”
Fire activity in Maricopa County increased late Thursday, and authorities moved crews to the southeast side of the fire to protect buildings. Wildfires also threaten “high-voltage power lines and the Sonoran Desert,” officials said. inch web.
“The fire burned through grass and brush and moved from private property into the Tonto National Forest,” they said.
almost 270 people According to Sunday’s InciWeb update, the fire has been assigned.
“As fire brigades from the south and west sides of the fire set up fire lines and begin mopping up, fire crews focused particularly on the south-eastern part of the fire as homes were at risk and prevailing winds were blowing. ”, the latest information says.
The latest information says thunderstorms are possible and “high winds and lightning may complicate firefighting efforts.”
This story has been updated with additional information.
CNN’s Ashley R. Williams contributed to this report.
