Evacuations are underway as wildfire burns near Prescott

PRESCOTT, AZ (3TV/CBS 5) — Dozens of homes near Prescott have been evacuated as a new wildfire burns in the Prescott National Forest. The Crooks Fire was first spotted around 10 a.m. on Monday about 10 miles south of Prescott. Forest officials say the flames are burning through brush, ponderosa pine and mixed conifer. Fire crews attacked the flames from the air and the ground but so far, there’s zero containment. Smoke can be seen in various areas in the High Country, including Chino Valley, Mayer and Prescott Valley. The Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office said about 30 homes were evacuated in the Mountain Pine Acres area. An evacuation center has been set up at Findlay Toyota Center in Prescott Valley.

State officials said the fire has burned approximately 500 acres. According to YCSO, Mount Union, Camp Kippa, Camp Kiva and Mt. Tridal have already been evacuated. The areas being told to be ready to evacuate are:

Hopper’s Retreat
Evan’s Cabin
Potato Patch
Lower Wolf Creek
Groom Creek and Groom Creek camps

The following roads are closed because of the flames:

Goodwin Road - Crown King to Senator Highway
Walker Road is blocked at Senator Highway
Lower Wolf Creek Road blocked at Senator Highway
Big Bug Mesa is blocked at Goodwin Road.

No word yet on what caused the fire.

MANDATORY EVACUATION OREDERED -CODE RED IS ACTIVE"GO" EVAC: A MANDATORY
EVAC ISSUED FOR RESIDENTS LOCATED NEAR MT UNION AND CAMP KIPPA. SIGNIFICANT DANGER TO YOU; GATHER NECESSARY ITEMS AND GO. SHELTER HAS BEEN SET UP AT FINDLAY TOYOTA CENTER IN PV https://t.co/LjuL5wpPAZ
— Yavapai Co Sheriff's Office (@YavapaiSheriff) April 19, 2022