Central Arizona Wildfire Grows to 250 Acres Within Several Hours

Two homes were evacuated on Thursday, June 17, as crews battled a wildfire north of Prescott Valley, Arizona, that reached approximately 250 acres after breaking out around noon, according to officials.

This footage released by Central Arizona Fire and Medical Authority shows ongoing firefighting efforts on Thursday. In the first clip, air tankers are seen dropping retardant as the fire burns several miles north of Prescott Valley. In the second clip, smoke is seen billowing out of large flames. “Thunderstorms in the area are making things challenging with wind shifts,” the department wrote in a caption.

Officials of nearby Chino Valley requested the town’s high school gym to be made available as an evacuation site in the event that it would be needed. Credit: Central Arizona Fire and Medical Authority via Storyful