The Greer Fire has consumed 3,500 acres in eastern Arizona. Here's what to know
A wind-driven wildfire in the small Arizona community of Greer in the eastern part of the state prompted evacuations after the Greer Fire rapidly grew to 3,500 acres in one day, the town of Eagar said in a Facebook post.
Authorities set a "go" status for the communities of South Fork and North Woods on May 13 after a fire started on private land and got into "heavy fuels" in the area, destroying "multiple structures," according to the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management.
Greer, which had a population of 58 according to the 2020 census, sits within the White Mountains and is surrounded by the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests.
Apache County Emergency Management and Preparedness said shortly after 6 a.m. on May 14 that the fire was still estimated at 3,500 acres.
Here's what to know.
State Route 260 was closed in both directions between mileposts 385 and 393 because of the fire, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation. The southbound lanes of State Route 373 leading to Greer were also closed.
The agency had no estimated time for when the roads would reopen as of May 13.
American Red Cross Arizona opened an evacuation center at Round Valley High School Dome in Eagar, where evacuees were told to go, according to a Northeastern Arizona Public Information System Facebook post. It was closed the evening of May 13, with a new shelter set up at St. Johns High School.
Mandatory "go" evacuations were issued for the community of Greer, as well as the North Woods and South Fork areas, according to the Northeastern Arizona Public Information System's website. Parts of Eagar, including the 26 Bar neighborhood and residents west of River Road, were placed under "set" status, advising them to be prepared to evacuate if necessary.
Evacuees with recreational vehicles or large animals were told to go to the Round Valley Rodeo Grounds in Eagar, according to the website.
The mayors of Eagar and Springerville signed a declaration of emergency on May 13 that prohibited the burning of any type outdoors as well as outdoor smoking.
Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs posted on X about the fire and said she was thinking of all those affected and was "deeply grateful for our brave firefighters."
What to know: What is 'ready, set, go' and what does it have to do with Arizona wildfires?
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Greer Fire grows to 3.5K acres in eastern Arizona. What to know
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