A wildfire broke out in the small desert town of Kearney, destroying two buildings and threatening to destroy more than 50 structures, authorities said Wednesday.
The Simmons Fire, which started Tuesday, has burned 475 acres without being contained, according to Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management spokeswoman Tiffany Davila.
In Kearny, a city of about 1,800 people 75 miles north of Tucson, about 180 residents remain under mandatory evacuations.
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The fire was burning dry fuels such as grass and shrubs and was threatening a water treatment plant, a copper mine, school district offices and railroad tracks.
A wildfire threatened more than 50 structures in Kearney, Arizona, on Wednesday, authorities said. (Fox News)
Pinal County officials said the town’s Riverside neighborhood was evacuated Tuesday night and a shelter was opened at an elementary school.
Authorities shut off power to north Kearney for safety reasons, and four air tankers worked alongside ground firefighters to put out the blaze.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency has approved Arizona’s request for funds to help fight the fires.
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The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
