Arizona’s Rose Fire destroys at least 25 homes, closes route to Phoenix as temperatures reach dangerous levels
The Rose Fire destroyed multiple structures after forcing officials to close U.S. 60, which connected the town of Wickenburg to Phoenix, as dangerously hot temperatures continue i♉n Arizona this week.
Officials with the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management said the Rose Fire started on Wednesday about 4 miles south of Wickenbur🎃g on the east side of U.S. 60.
Windy, hot and dry conditions helped the fire grow from less than 10 acres to more than 160 acres, prompting evacuations for the Rio Vista Hills com🎉munity.
The fire jumped💦 the highway and continues🐼 to burn on both sides of U.S. 60.
The fire destroyed at least six structures, and approximately 25 homes are still threatened by the Rose Fire. that 𒀰about 100 homes were initially tꦿhreatened on Wednesday.
All evacuation orders have been lifted and residents were allow𒁏ed to return home as of Thursday morning.
On Thursday, officials with the ൲Arizona Department of Forestry said overnight cooler temperatures and increasing humidity helped decrease fire activity and kept it from growing.
The fire is still estimated to be🌼 150 acres with no containment🐼.
✨Additional resources, including hotshot crews and en🐭gines, are arriving on Thursday.
Officials said U.S. 60 remains closed in both direct💎ions outside Wickenburg as the fire continues to burn o🍌n both sides of the highway.
Downed power line𝔍s across the highway cre♎ate additional dangers for vehicles.
The fꦉire closed the quickest route to and from Phoenix on U.S. 60 near Morristown and south of Wickenburg.
Traffic is being rerouted to♍ Interstate 10 to circumvent the closure, increasing the typically one-hour ;commute by𓃲 about 30 minutes.
Arizon♎a Department of Transportation officials recommend travelers from Phoenix traveling to or from northwest Arizona and Las Vegas should use interstates 17, 40 or 10 and State Road 95 💦as alternate routes.
The cause of the fire is under inve🌌stigation.
Dangerous heat bakes Arizona
Firefighters battling the Rose Fire hav🐓e faced extreme weather condit𓃲ions.
Excessive Heat Warnings are in effect for five states across the West, including Arizona ♛and California.
Dangerously hot temperatures between 106 and 112 degrees are 🎀forecast across southwestern and southern A🦋rizona.
Phoen𒊎ix and most of southern Arizona remain under an Excessive Heat Warning through Sunday night.
Wickenburg i😼s included in the warning, and temperatures are forec♔ast to hit 104 on Friday.
