YOUNG, AZ (AZFamily) — A lightning-sparked wildfire that’s been burning for nearly a month has forced a community in the Tonto National Forest to evacuate.
The Gila County Sheriff’s Office said people in Murphy Ranch need to leave their homes because of the Billy Fire. The flames started on July 9 and are burning about 15 miles south of Young.
As of Saturday afternoon, the fire has burned 6,163 acres and is 27% contained. More than 130 firefighters are battling the flames.
Around 2 p.m. on Friday, five firefighters were hospitalized after a UTV accident. Fire officials say they were all airlifted to the hospital but were released later that night.
Crews said the fire in Pueblo Canyon started moving toward the community, and firefighters worked to protect buildings and did burnouts to