Tonto Forest wildfire grows to 5,000 acres near Cave Creek

A seemingly fast-growing wildfire in Tonto National Forest had burned 5,000 acres near Cave Creek by Saturday night, officials said.

Earlier in the day, the wildfire prompted road closures and evacuations near Bartlett Lake, officials said.

The Wildcat Fire, located north of Dynamite Boulevard and 136th Street near Vista Verde, was burning about 5,000 acres, the Tonto National Forest reported on Facebook on Saturday night.

Wildcat Fire update:Officials shut down part of Tonto National Forest to fight Wildcat Fire

Officials noted that the wildfire, situated in the forest northeast of Scottsdale, was reported shortly before 9:30 a.m. Saturday and initially was reported as having burned 500 acres.

The blaze forced the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office to close Bartlett Dam Road, which connects Cave Creek Road to Bartlett Lake, as the wildfire was burning on both sides of the road, according to the Tonto National Forest.

Visitors were also being escorted from Bartlett Lake due to the wildfire. Authorities urged the public to sign up for the Maricopa County Emergency Notification System to receive prompt alerts about emergency evacuations.

Resources responding include Geronimo, Mormon Lake, Prescott and Globe Interagency Hotshot Crews, the Perryville Crew, Lewis Crew, Superstition Crew, four engines, an air tanker, three helicopters, Maricopa County Sheriff's Office, Scottsdale Fire Department, Mesa Medics, and more resources have been ordered, according to the Tonto National Forest.

In addition, officials cautioned that the public should avoid traveling through the area of the wildfire as well as flying drones near it in case they might interfere with aircraft fighting the fire.

“Remember, drones and firefighting aircraft are a dangerous mix and could lead to accidents or slow down wildfire suppression operations,” the Tonto National Forest wrote on Facebook. “If you fly, we can’t.”

More help:Gov. Hobbs signs law netting interstate resources to combat wildfires in Arizona

Madeline Nguyen is a breaking news reporter at The Republic. Reach her at Madeline.Nguyen@gannett.com or 480-619-0285. Follow her on X @madelineynguyen.