The 87 Fire that swept through Tonto National Forest, charring 85 acres of woodland, is now under control with Bush Highway set to reopen. In a coordinated effort involving multiple agencies, firefighters have halted the blaze's advance, according to a post from Tonto National Forest. Bush Highway, which was shut down at its juncture with State Route 87 due to the wildfire, will be accessible to motorists starting 11 p.m. yesterday.
Fighting from both land and air, at least one air tanker was used in an air attack to subdue the flames. With a significant decrease in fire activity reported yesterday evening, officials anticipate continuing with operations this morning. Though the fire interrupted traffic, requiring drivers to consider alternative routes, crews have been successful in stopping the forward progression of the fire,
The cause of the 87 Fire remains unknown, and officials have not released details concerning the start of the fire. Investigations continue as operations to fully extinguish remaining hot spots are underway.
According to abc15.com, the re-opening of Bush Highway comes as a relief to commuters, who have been asked to plan for an alternate route while the area was restricted. The 87 Fire near Saguaro Lake drew a swift response from local fire departments and volunteers to tackle the blaze that has affected one of Arizona's most scenic regions.
