UPDATE (10pm) About 400 acres of river bed have burned, according to Elston Grubeau, Wellton-Mohawk Irrigation and Drainage District General Manager.

“We were able to protect something important. Rivers sometimes burn. It’s always there and will grow,” says Grubaugh.

Grubaugh says the Tacna and Wellton volunteer fire departments are doing their best to contain it.

“And we have some traditional cottonwood trees that we really want to protect.

He says the high winds caused the fire to flare up and burn the old barn.

“The home pig farm here and some of the other facilities that are no longer used to produce pigs have burned,” Grubeau explains.

The fire department was able to surround the house right next door with a bid.

Linda Craton, a Welton resident, said she drove by because she lives nearby and could see the smoke from her house.

“We just started enjoying the river here and would absolutely hate to see it go up in flames. The bullfrogs are having fun.

Farmers waited with their tractors at the edge of the road in case the flames spread to their wheat crops.

“Fortunately, these wheat fields that we see next to us here are still quite green, so they were well protected from the fires,” says Grubaugh.

No injuries or property damage were reported.

Update (4pm) – The wildfires are still underway. Random hot spots are scattered throughout the area.

The fire has not affected traffic.

UPDATE (3:00 PM) – According to the Welton Fire Department, there was a call about the fire around 3:45 AM.

The cause of the brush fire is still unknown.

The location of the fire is Co 10 1/2 Street and Avenues 25E and 26E.

There is a house nearby and the Welton Fire Department is doing their best to keep the fire away from the house and nearby fields.

Yuma County, Arizona (KYMA, KECY) – County 10 Street road from Ave 24E to Ave 26E will be closed until further notice due to wildfires along the Gila River.

Yuma County is advising communities to stay away from the area.

The shutdown started around 1pm on Thursday.

KYMA will keep updating this story.