The northbound lanes of Interstate 17 reopened this afternoon following a closure caused by a vehicle fire that escalated into a brush fire, as confirmed by the Arizona Department of Transportation. The incident, which took place near Sunset Point around 4:15 p.m. yesterday, caused significant traffic delays until the roadway was cleared and reopened to the public at approximately 6:30 p.m.
While battling the flames that grew from the vehicle fire, the spread to the nearby brush, leading firefighters to name the incident the Black Mesa Fire. Reporting by FOX 10 Phoenix indicated that the fire had engulfed around 50 acres. Officials from the Bureau of Land Management confirmed the extent of the fire's reach.
According to a post by Daisy Mountain Firefighters, crews were on scene to tackle the wildfire which had originally begun as an isolated car fire. The southbound lanes remained open throughout the ordeal, allowing for continued travel in the opposite direction. The cause of the vehicle fire has not been disclosed at this time.
As a major freeway serving as a gateway to the high country, the closure of I-17 northbound near Black Canyon City, milepost 252, caused significant inconvenience to travelers. The freeway's shutdown, as detailed by AZ Family, lasted for several hours with the fire control efforts wrapping up and lanes reopening around 6:40 p.m last evening. Drivers rejoiced finally on the throughway after the lanes were closed for several hours.
