U.S. 60 was closed in both directions near Wickenburg on Thursday after the Jones Fire sparked a brush fire that spread along the highway and a nearby river bottom. Fire officials said the blaze had burned an estimated 15 acres southeast of Wickenburg, and it was not clear when the road would reopen.
The fire was burning at milepost 111 along both sides of the river bottom and the highway in salt cedar, cottonwood, grasses and brush. A GO alert was issued the same day, and residents from U.S. 93 to Zabel Mine Road and from the railroad tracks west of U.S. 60 to the area east of U.S. 60 were told to evacuate.
Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management said, “The fire is burning along both sides of the river bottom & the highway, in salt cedar, cottonwood, grasses & brush,” as crews ordered four SEATs and a Type 2 hand crew to the scene. The cause of the brush fire was unknown.
The Jones Fire remained a developing incident Thursday, with updates expected as crews worked to slow it and assess the damage near Wickenburg.
