CROWN KING, Ariz. (AP) — High winds have nearly tripled the size of a wildfire in northern Arizona that led to an evacuation order for a historic mining town.
The fire in the Prescott National Forest grew to an estimated 5,400 acres, or nearly 8 1/2 square miles, by Wednesday evening. It was at about 2,000 acres on Tuesday.
Nearly 500 firefighters are trying to keep the flames away from Crown King, a community of mostly summer homes about 85 miles north of Phoenix.
But fire incident spokeswoman Michelle Fidler says winds could shift and push the wildfire back into the community where it started Sunday as a structure fire on private property.
Authorities say most of the Crown King's 350 residents have evacuated their homes.
