The Gladiator Fire near Crown King, AZ, burns along a ridge line; stain from fire retardant drop is at left.A wildfire that drove hundreds from their homes in four small mountain communities 40 miles north of Phoenix has grown to nearly 15,000 acres, federal officials reported Tuesday.
The Gladiator Fire was approaching Forest Road 52, also known as Senator Highway, in the Prescott National Forest, and crews were working Tuesday to stop it from crossing the road. The announced burn area as of 6:30 a.m. Tuesday was 14,963 acres.
Despite strong winds, high heat and low humidity on Monday, officials reported that firefighters made significant progress against the 9-day-old fire, which started from a house fire in Crown King. It was reported to be 19 percent contained. More than 1,100 crew members were on the ground, supported by aerial retardant drops.
The town of Crown King and the settlements of Pine Flats, Turkey Creek and Battle Flat remained evacuated, and the Yavapai County Sheriff's Department warned residents to heed only its evacuation orders, saying rumors of other evacuations were "abundant."
Arizona's other large active fire, the Sunflower Fire in the Tonto National Forest 20 miles south of Payson, was at 16,115 acres Tuesday morning. The federal Incident Information System website reported the fire at 43 percent containment with a "medium" potential for growth.
Four firefighters were treated for minor injuries in the last two days, including one with bee stings.
The Bull Flat Fire on the Fort Apache Agency east of Payson was reported 95 percent contained Tuesday morning, at 2,145 acres.
Two small fires broke out Monday in the Coronado National Forest southeast of Sierra Vista along the Mexican border, forcing closure of roads to Parker Canyon Lake. One fire, the Collins, had burned 60 acres, the other, the Campini, 50 acres. Firefighters reported progress in suppressing the fires, with 50 percent containment on both.
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