Fire evacuations end in Apache Junction; SR 88 reopens

A brush fire in Apache Junction caused the evacuation of residences and closed nearby State Route 88 on Thursday.

A brush fire in Apache Junction behind the rodeo grounds near Tomahawk Road and Lost Dutchman Boulevard forced the evacuation of residences on nearby Hackamore Road, according to a series of tweets by the Apache Junction Police Department.

The Lost Dutchman Fire was 10% contained and had burned 221 acres as of Thursday night, according to Arizona State Forestry.

After it started in the afternoon, it grew to be a three-alarm brush fire that had “jumped the initial fire break” near SR 88 in Apache Junction, Superstition Fire and Medical District said in a tweet.

“State Wildland has ordered air attack with crews on the ground. Homes are being threatened and the fire is moving north,” the tweet said.

SR 88 was closed in the area while crews worked to control the fire, but reopened about 7 p.m., according to the Arizona Department of Transportation. Evacuations were lifted by 8:20 p.m., according to Arizona State Forestry.

The federal Bureau of Land Management said a second fire started about 2 miles south of the Lost Dutchman Fire, east of Goldfield Road near Southern Avenue, at 4:37 p.m. Single engine airtankers dropped flame retardant on both fires, the BLM said.

Dolores Garcia of the Bureau of Land Management said that the fires were human-caused because there has been no lightning. Garcia said they are currently investigating if the two fires are related.

The fires are being fueled by an abundance of dry grass and brush, the

BLM said.

About 7 p.m., Garcia said the Lost Dutchman Fire was no longer growing and that the second fire, called the Southern Fire, was at 35 acres and firefighters were building a containment line around the fire by removing vegetation.

The Southern Fire is expected to hold at about 35 acres thanks to calmer winds in the area, Garcia said. Firefighters were still on the ground combating the fire.