CROWN KING, Ariz., May 21 (UPI) -- Four wildfires in Arizona continue to burn, and a fire weather watch was issued by the federal government Monday for most of northern and western Arizona.
The National Weather Service issued the watch in light of sustained winds expected to blow at 15-40 miles per hour, with gusts to 40 mph, and humidity expected to stay at around 5 percent, the agency said Monday.
The most serious fire is referred to as the Gladiator Fire, which began as a house fire in the historic mining community of Crown King on May 13 and has grown into a blaze that has affected more than 14,000 acres in the Bradshaw Mountains, and is the only current fire to affect buildings. Two more structures were consumed by the Gladiator Fire over the weekend, bringing the total to eight, The Arizona Republic reported Monday.
The communities of Crown King, Battle Flat, Turkey Creek and Pine Plat have been under mandatory evacuation orders since Friday, and more than 1,100 firefighters are working to contain a fire that is described as 15 percent contained, the newspaper said.
The Sunflower Fire, north of Mesa, Ariz., has consumed 16,105 acres, has 360 firefighters involved, and is 33 percent contained. The Bull Fire on the Fort Apache Indian Reservation, which was started by a lightning strike, has burned more than 2,000 acres and is 90 percent contained. The Elwood Fire on the San Carlos Indian Reservation has burned 1,500 acres and is 5 percent contained, the newspaper said.
