Rose Fire claims 15 structures near Arizona city, slows traffic on Phoenix-Las Vegas Expressway

MARICOPA COUNTY, Arizona. – The Rose Fire in Wickenburg destroyed seven homes, prompted overnight evacuations and closed the main highway between Phoenix and Las Vegas before an army of firefighters arrived to stem the flames, a fire official said Thursday.

Thursday afternoon, US 60 partially reopened.

Tiffany Davila of the Department of Forestry and Fire Management said evacuation orders for residents were lifted before noon.

The fire has burned 166 acres and was 90% contained as of June 15. The fire broke out on June 12.

“In total, 15 structures were destroyed, seven of which were primary residences,” Davila said.

Davila said cooler nighttime temperatures, increased humidity and the arrival of about 200 local, state and federal firefighters helped put out the blaze, along with planes collecting water from a reservoir neighbor to throw it on the flames.

“As temperatures rise, we could see fire activity increase,” she added.

The fire comes as heat warnings remain in effect after several days of record temperatures across a large swath of the southwestern United States. The National Weather Service predicts monsoon rains could wait until early July to relieve the country of hot, dry weather.

No evacuation orders have been put in place for this fire.

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE STATE'S READY, SET, GO SYSTEM

Map of the area where the fire is burning: