‘Prescott Valley Fire’ burns about 300 acres north of Highway 89A
Firefighters jump on response; no structures damaged

Pronghorn run through the grasslands between Prescott and Prescott Valley while a wildfire burns north of Highway 89A Monday afternoon, Jan. 21.
Photo by Les Stukenberg.

Pronghorn run through the grasslands between Prescott and Prescott Valley while a wildfire burns north of Highway 89A Monday afternoon, Jan. 21.

A wind-driven wildfire took some battling after tearing through grasslands north of Highway 89A early Monday afternoon, Jan. 21.

Titled the Prescott Valley Fire, the blaze was first reported around 1:50 p.m. east of Granite Dells Parkway.

Encouraged by 20 mph winds, it quickly travelled northeast across the plains spanning between Prescott and Prescott Valley. Fortunately, nothing but grass and some chaparral was in its path.

“We're lucky there were no neighborhoods or houses in the immediate area,” said Rick Chase, Central Arizona Fire and Medical Authority’s Fire Marshall.

By 4 p.m., firefighters reported having the blaze under control and estimated it burned between 300 and 400 acres.

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Central Arizona Fire and Medical Authority firefighters drive along the perimeter of a wildfire burning north of Highway 89A Monday afternoon, Jan. 21.

“They got the head of the fire stopped and they’re just going to be hitting the hotspots and basically mopping up the edge to ensure it's out,” Chase said. “They’re going to keep people on there for quite some time; maybe even throughout the night.”

Westbound traffic along Highway 89A was reduced to one lane for several hours between Glassford Hill Road and Granite Dells Parkway during the incident.

Follow Max Efrein on Twitter @mefrein, email him at mefrein@prescottaz.com or call him at 928-445-3333 ext. 1105.


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