Firefighters are responding to a wildfire, named the Wildcat Fire, on the Tonto National Forest near Vista Verde north of Dynamite Blvd. and 136th Street on the Cave Creek Ranger District.
The Wildcat Fire was reported at approximately 9:20 a.m. this morning and is currently estimated to be 500 acres. Resources responding include the Geronimo and Prescott hotshot crews, three engines, air attack, an air tanker, one helicopter, and more resources have been ordered. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office has closed Bartlett Dam Road as the fire is burning on both sides of the road and visitors are carefully being escorted from Bartlett Lake. Please avoid the area while crews conduct fire suppression operations for public and firefighter safety. The public is urged to sign up for the Maricopa County Emergency Notification System to be quickly notified of possible emergency evacuations if necessary. To learn more about the Arizona Emergency Information Network visit https://ein.az.gov/ready-set-go#County/Tribal%20Emergency%20Notification%20Systems.
Remember, drones and firefighting aircraft are a dangerous mix and could lead to accidents or slow down wildfire suppression operations. If you fly, we can’t.
Updates will be posted on the Tonto Facebook site at https://www.facebook.com/TontoNationalForest/; and Twitter at https://twitter.com/TontoNF.