A blaze that started with a dump truck engulfing in flames swiftly triggered a brush fire in the vicinity of Fountain Hills, forcing the closure of State Route 87's southbound lanes on Monday, authorities confirmed. Drivers faced delays as the fire department tackled the relentless fire that breached the desert tranquility and threatened to encroach upon the pavement near Shea Boulevard on the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community territory, kissing the edge of Fountain Hills.
The Arizona Department of Transportation announced the shutdown at Shea Boulevard and stated that the lanes were subsequently reopened Monday evening after the firefighting crew managed to subdue the inferno's appetite. As per a FOX 10 Phoenix report, traffic resumed its normal flow as the fire was confirmed under control.
The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office disclosed that some residential areas were evacuated as a safety measure, prompting a temporary dislocation for the locals. These residents have since been allowed to repopulate their dwellings, a sign that the danger has simmered down. "No injuries have been reported," according to a statement obtained by AZFamily.
One lane was reopened at about 2:15 p.m., as shared in a post from ADOT on X, providing a partial respite to the congestion while fire personnel continued their work. The reopening of SR 87 was a carefully orchestrated maneuver, a culmination of efforts by firefighters to contain a situation that could have turned catastrophic had the flames jumped the road, igniting an even larger swath of the arid landscape.
UPDATE: The left lane is open on SR 87 SB at Shea Boulevard. pic.twitter.com/mPSLaIM2tW
— Arizona DOT (@ArizonaDOT) May 13, 2024
