Boulder View Fire prompts evacuations and threatens infrastructure in Scottsdale
The Boulder View Fire stayed very active overnight, showing extreme fire behavior with 20 to 40-foot flame lengths in some areas.
For the safety of the public and firefighters, fire operations made the decision to place residences in that area of the fire into a “GO,” evacuate and “SET,” pre-evacuate status. Those statuses remain in effect at this time and the Red Cross has set up a shelter at the Cactus Shadows High School: 5802 E. Dove Valley Road, Scottsdale, AZ. Approximately 60 residences are impacted by the fire.
Today, engine crews are providing structure protection to homes within that area and hand crews are conducting firing operations to tie in the fire to nearby road systems. Overnight, and due to the significant fire activity, the fire pushed out to the east and southeast.
While the fire slowed on the east side within the Wildcat Fire burn scar, the potential remains for a reburn in that area. Aircraft, including a Very Large Air Tanker is working that side in conjunction with those ground crews. The fire is also threatening infrastructure including high voltage power lines, the Scottsdale Preserve and the Sonoran Desert.
Along the north side, the fire slopped over containment line overnight and hand crews are working to pick that up. Engines are also patrolling the Powerline Road which runs north to south off Bartlett Dam Road as a precaution to ensure high voltage power lines are protected. Engines are also assigned and working in the area near the point of origin due to the heavy amount of fuel within that area.
The fire continues to be fueled by hot and dry conditions and today, wind gusts up to 15 mph are expected across the fire area.
Bartlett Lake remains open to the public, however, there is a road closure in place at Bartlett Dam and Cave Creek Roads. There is no entry for recreation at this time.
Additional resources arrived on the fire this morning including, hand crews and engines.
The Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management along with the Tonto National Forest are managing the fire at this time. The Boulder View Fire started around 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 27, approximately 4.5 miles east of Carefree, in North Scottsdale near the Boulder Heights subdivision.
The fire was determined to be human-caused and is under investigation.
For evacuation information: https://www.maricopa.gov/. Maricopa County residents are encouraged to sign up for emergency alerts at: https://www.maricopa.gov/1755/CENS.
Weather: Hot, dry, and windy conditions. Wind gusts up to 15 mph.
Incident Information: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/aza4s-boulder-view-fire
Twitter: @azstateforestry
Facebook: Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management
Media/Public Phone: 602-540-1036
Ready, Set, Go: https://ein.az.gov/ready-set-go
