LAKE PLEASANT, AZ — A brush fire that ignited Saturday temporarily closed SR 74 near Lake Pleasant.
Called the Hot Springs Fire, it was estimated to be about 130 acres burning south of the highway as of 3:45 p.m. The Bureau of Land Management said the fire was moving quickly through the grass and brush in the area.
As of 6:30 p.m. on Saturday afternoon, the fire was 50 percent contained.
A helicopter was called to assist ground crews in working to contain the fire, officials said.
#HotSpringsFire Resources are on scene of a 5 acre fire south of Hwy 74 MP 19.
— BLM Arizona Fire (@BLMAZFire) May 25, 2019
Location: https://t.co/ypEazuYzpP
SR 74, also known as the Carefree Highway, was closed in both directions at milepost 17 for several hours as a result of the fire. The Arizona Department of Transportation recommendeded drivers take Interstate 17, the Loop 303 and US 60 as a detour.
The roadway was reopened in both directions around 7:30 p.m.
Bureau of Land Management officials confirmed the fire is separate from the Dove Fire, which started Friday afternoon and had burned an estimated 1200 acres northwest of Surprise as of Saturday morning.
Further details about the Hot Springs Fire were not immediately available.
This is a developing story. Stay with ABC15 for updates.
