Residents in the Phoenix area of Arizona are facing a critical situation as wildfires have scorched through 2,500 acres of land, prompting evacuation orders.
The Boulder View Fire, which started on Thursday, remains uncontained, fueled by strong winds and scorching, dry weather. This has led to urgent measures to protect the community and prevent further devastation.
The evacuation order went into effect Thursday night for those living on the southeast side of the fire, northeast of Scottsdale, putting about 50 buildings at risk. By nightfall, the fire had moved from private land onto the Tonto National Forest, posing a greater threat to the region.
Local authorities are working tirelessly to combat the blaze. Teams from the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management, along with the Tonto National Forest wildfire units, are heavily engaged in the firefighting efforts. They are employing a range of aerial resources, including a Very Large Air Tanker, a Large Air Tanker, four Single Engine Air Tankers, two helicopters, and an Air Attack plane.
Arizona: There is a new start called the Boulder View Fire burning near Scottsdale outside the Boulder Heights community.
The fire is already 500+ acres and air attack has requested a VLAT to help. #azfire #azwx #wildfire
📷 @Wb17384947 pic.twitter.com/nyRGL0abla— The Hotshot Wake Up (@HotshotWake) June 27, 2024
Evacuations are being managed by the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office, Scottsdale Police, and the Arizona Department of Public Safety. Nearly 180 personnel have been deployed to assist with the situation, reflecting the severity of the threat in a county that houses approximately 4.5 million people. Additionally, locations have been established to evacuate large animals, ensuring the safety of all affected by the fire.
In the early hours of the morning, emergency personnel expanded their ‘GO’ evacuation order from 136th Street to 152nd Street and from Dixileta Road to Dove Valley Road. This was later updated to ‘SET’ around 4 a.m., indicating a heightened state of alert for residents.
These wildfires come amid a summer marked by extreme heat across the nation. Phoenix, America’s hottest big city, has been particularly affected. Last year, Maricopa County experienced a staggering 645 heat-related deaths, a significant increase from the 425 deaths in 2022. This year, at least six people have already died from heat-related causes in the city.
In response to the ongoing heat crisis, Phoenix has implemented new methods aimed at saving lives. The situation has been so severe that Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs declared a state of emergency in 2023 after metro Phoenix endured a 31-day streak of temperatures reaching at least 110 degrees.
