CHINO VALLEY, Ariz. (AP) - The Latest on a wildfire in north-central Arizona (all times local):
___
4:30 p.m.
A quickly-growing wildfire in north-central Arizona has destroyed two homes and up to a dozen outbuildings.
The blaze about nine miles south of Chino Valley was first reported around 11 a.m. on Friday and has grown to 3 square miles.
Tiffany Davila of the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management said in a news release that it’s possible three or four more homes in the Poquito Valley area have also been destroyed, and an additional 400 structures are threatened.
Evacuations for some communities are in place.
Officials say dry conditions and gusty winds are hindering firefighting efforts.
___
3:55 p.m.
Fire authorities say one structure was destroyed by a wildfire in north-central Arizona.
Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management spokeswoman Tiffany Davila says it’s not clear what kind of structure that was. Several homes in that area have been evacuated, and officials have set up a shelter at the Yavapai County Community College.
Fire south of Chino Valley and north of Prescott was reported around 11 a.m. Friday.
It’s burned about 3 square miles and grew quickly thanks to dry grass and gusty winds.
State Route 89, which was closed for several hours, has been reopened.
___
3:18 p.m.
Aerial footage of a wildfire in north-central Arizona shows several structures burning.
The footage from KPHO-TV shows structures burning in the wildfire that’s about nine miles south of Chino Valley.
Officials say the fire has burned about 3 square miles and grew very quickly because of dry grass and gusty winds.
The fire began around 11 a.m. on Friday and resulted in the closure of a state highway.
It’s unclear how many structures have burned. The Red Cross of Arizona has opened a shelter at the Yavapai County Community College.
___
1:26 p.m.
Officials say a brush fire has erupted in northern Arizona quickly burning through about 3 square miles (8 square kilometers) of dry grass and vegetation, and fueled by gusty winds.
The fire has prompted authorities to close multiple lanes of a state highway in Prescott Valley and issue an evacuation order for different areas.
The fire started Friday at about 11 a.m.
The Arizona Department of Transportation says it closed southbound lanes of State Route 89A, at milepost 325, in response to the fire. The northbound stretch has been narrowed to a single lane.
Yavapai County Sheriff’s officials issued an evacuation order for two areas, including a subdivision. A sheriff’s spokesman wasn’t immediately certain how many homes were under evacuation.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.