Brush Fire in Black Canyon City Burns 20 Acres
UPDATE 7:20 p.m. — Crews battled a brush fire in Black Canyon City Sunday afternoon that grew to about 20 acres. The fire’s forward progress was stopped by evening.
Daisy Mountain Fire Department (DMFD) responded to reports of a fire at about 3 p.m.
“The fire is burning in very rough terrain with limited access,” the Central Arizona Wildland Response Team (CAWRT) said in a statement at about 4:30 p.m.
The Mud Springs Fire, as it was named, drew 17 ground-based firefighting vehicles from DMFD and other agencies, a helicopter making bucket drops and two other airborne assets, officials said.
“Forward progress of the fire has been stopped,” CAWRT said at 6:30 p.m. “Release of some resources has begun. Units will remain assigned until the fire is contained and hot spots are mopped up.”
“It’s estimated to be 20 acres in size and is under investigation,” DMFD spokesperson Paul Schickel told North Phoenix News just after 7 p.m.
The fire comes after monsoon storms and humidity helped slow what had been a very active fire season in North Phoenix and up into the mountains along I-17.
Editor’s Note: A subsequent story tells the odd tale of the man who admitted to starting this fire.
