Buckeye Brush Fire Contained at 275 Acres Near River Bottom

BUCKEYE, Ariz. — Crews from the Buckeye Fire Department responded around 3 p.m. Saturday to a six-acre brush fire at Hazen Road and Rooks roads in the city's remote river bottom area, a rugged terrain thick with vegetation and tough to access. The blaze exploded to more than 270 acres by 7 p.m., fueled by dry conditions, prompting a swift handoff to the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management, which assumed command as it hit 273 acres and 0% containment.

Assistant Fire Chief Rayne Gray reported at 9 p.m. that crews secured the perimeter with no further spread, ultimately containing the fire at 275 acres by evening's end. Natural barriers halted the westward push at the Highway 85 bridge, while firefighters allowed controlled burns through available fuels to exhaust the flames safely. Arizona Public Service de-energized nearby power lines, and no structures were threatened, sparing the growing West Valley community.

The northbound lanes of State Route 85 closed temporarily for visibility and safety, reopening around 8:35 p.m. courtesy of the Arizona Department of Transportation; nearby residents were told to shelter in place but no formal evacuations occurred. With zero injuries and the fire held in check, state teams prepared overnight patrols in this expanse south of Buckeye's booming suburbs, where seasonal winds often ignite such river bottom infernos.

Investigators probe the cause amid Arizona's persistent fire risk, as the West Valley braces for hotter months ahead.