Overview
- The Horseshoe Fire, which started Thursday near the west side of the Verde River south of Horseshoe Lake, is estimated at about 300 acres and is spreading at a moderate to high rate.
- Air tankers and helicopters supported ground crews by dropping retardant and nearly 100,000 gallons of water to slow the fire and hold lines near Horseshoe Dam Road.
- Firefighters are shielding K Ranch, Horseshoe Dam, nearby utility sites and riparian habitat that packs dense brush along the river and makes the fire hard to attack.
- Forest Road 205, also called Horseshoe Dam Road, is closed to the public for safety as the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office assists, and no evacuation alerts have been issued.
- Forecasters expect hotter, drier weather with gusts up to 20 mph that could strengthen fire behavior and keep smoke visible for days, and investigators are still working to determine the cause.