Evacuation Notice Lifted in Area Where Wildfire Destroyed Arizona Homes

Dudleyville on standby status

 

 

DUDLEYVILLE, Ariz. (AP) — Authorities on Saturday lifted an evacuation notice for a south-central Arizona community where a wildfire earlier burned at least 12 homes, allowing approximately 200 residents to return home.

The Pinal County Sheriff’s Office said the Dudleyville area reverted to a standby status in case a new evacuation is necessary.

The fire that burned 1.9 square miles (5 square kilometers) including thick vegetation along the Gila River’s bottom was contained around 50% of its perimeter as of Saturday as crews mopped up hot spots, fire managers said in a statement.

The fire started Thursday morning and its growth was largely halted that night. Crews extended and improved containment lines Friday.

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Officials said they waited to lift the evacuation notice until Saturday so utility workers could assess power and gas lines.

An investigator determined that the fire was human-caused and was trying to identify the specific ignition source, the statement said.

Drought-stricken Arizona had one of its worst wildfire seasons in nearly a decade in 2020, according to state Forestry and Fire Management Department officials.

Officials have warned there is a potential for widespread, statewide fire activity by June.

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Dudleyville on standby status     DUDLEYVILLE, Ariz. (AP) — Authorities on Saturday lifted an evacuation notice for a south-central Arizona community where a wildfire earlier burned at least 12 homes, allowing approximately 200 residents to return home. The Pinal County Sheriff’s Office said the Dudleyville area reverted to a standby status in case a […]

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