FORT MCDOWELL — On Monday, Gila County Health and Emergency Management say residents in the Tonto Basin and Punkin Center areas are being evacuated due to the human-caused Bush Fire.
Fire crews are battling the brush fire that began Saturday along State Route 87 near Bush Highway, in the Fort McDowell area. The fire is burning north towards the Sugarloaf Recreation area, officials say. Smoke can be seen from the Beeline Highway as well as Loop 101 and Loop 202.
U.S. Forest Service officials say the Bush Fire is 37,900 acres in size as of 3:43 p.m. Monday and there is no containment.