Arizona brush fire grows, hundreds of homes evacuated
The Mohave Valley, Ariz., fire sparked Saturday grew exponentially and about 6,000 acres were ablaze with an additional 700 homes evacuated on Sunday, the Bureau of Land Management in Arizona said.
The brush blaze, dubbed the Willow Fire, started at the Havasu National Wildlife Refuge, about 130 miles south of Las Vegas, the federal agency said. By Saturday night, the blaze was present in 2,000 acres of land.
That grew to 5,000 acres Sunday afternoon and eventually 1,000 more by the evening, the BLM said.
Initially 150 homes were evacuated, according to the Red Cross, but that number grew by 700 more homes on Sunday, BLM said, estimating that about 1,000 residents were ordered to keep out.
The News Herald in Lake Havasu, citing an official, reported that the fire had left at least 17 people homeless.
The Red Cross Grand Canyon Chapter opened a shelter at Mohave Valley Elementary School and advised those evacuated to bring their medications, important papers and three days' worth of clothing.
Those affected by the fire can call 1-800-842-7349 for help, the Red Cross said.
Contact Ricardo Torres at rtorres@reviewjournal.com and 702-383-0381. Find him on Twitter: @rickytwrites
