By Associated Press - Thursday, June 22, 2017

PHOENIX (AP) - Authorities say brush fire has now been contained after charring 4 square miles in far north Phoenix.

It’s still unclear how the fire started about 12:45 p.m. Thursday along the Loop 303 freeway and quickly grew.

The fire eventually closed an 11-mile stretch of Interstate 17 in both directions for hours due to thick, black smoke.



No homes or buildings were threatened by the second-alarm brush fire, however.

Phoenix Fire Department officials say more than 75 firefighters from surrounding cities helped control the blaze.

There were no reported injuries.

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