Hundreds of firefighters are working to extinguish the Boulderview Fire in Maricopa County, which forced the evacuation of more than 60 homes in suburban Phoenix, the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management said.
The department is investigating the cause of the fire and has determined it was “human-caused.” It started around 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, five miles east of the Scottsdale suburb of Carefree, and has expanded significantly since then.
read more: Learn about emergency funds and where to keep them
According to the National Park Service (NPS) website, “Nearly 85% of wildland fires in the United States are human-caused. Human-caused fires are caused by unattended campfires, burning debris, unused or malfunctioning equipment, Accidentally threw away a cigarette or intentionally set it on fire.
On Friday, the state's website said the fire “remained very active overnight, exhibiting extreme fire behavior with flames reaching lengths of 20 to 40 feet in some areas.” Reported.
Tiffany Davila/Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management (via AP)
As of Saturday, the fire had covered 3,736 acres and was 0 percent contained. Containment rates can change overnight, mainly due to weather conditions and wind. A press release from the ministry on Saturday said 242 personnel were assigned to fight the fire, including seven firefighters, 11 engines, two water turbines and six helicopters.
read more: How to build an emergency fund
“Aerial tankers and helicopters were used along the southern edge of the fire to clear a dual-track road and use it as a holding facility,” the release states. The Tonto National Forest, which is fighting the fire, issued a public warning on Friday on X (formerly Twitter) for civilians not to fly planes or drones while the Boulder View Fire is being extinguished.
said Tiffany Davila, public information officer for the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management. newsweek “The southeast side of the fire remains very active and retaining significant heat. Field crews continue to work within the area and helicopters are on call today if needed,” the Saturday afternoon email said. “We plan to use buckets to support work in lingering hotspots.”
Davila said the region's high temperatures of more than 100 degrees and wind gusts of 15 to 20 miles per hour, along with “dense, dry vegetation” were fueling the fire. “Fire activity was moderate to extreme despite unseasonably high humidity levels of 26 to 31 percent,” the department said.
In Scottsdale, a suburb of the state capital, 60 homes are under “GO” evacuation status, according to a press release from the department. According to a national program run by Arizona, this means “the danger in your area is imminent and life-threatening.”
Dávila confirmed that other nearby areas have also been issued with “SET” notices, encouraging residents to relocate to evacuation centers outside the area. On Friday, the Red Cross opened a shelter in Scottsdale. Maricopa County is the most populous county in the state, with a population of over 4.5 million people.
The Boulderview Fire started as a result of warmer than average temperatures in the area. The National Weather Service (NWS) Phoenix said Saturday that Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport reached a record warm-low temperature of 92 degrees on June 28, surpassing the 2016 temperature record of 89 degrees. Reported.
