LA PAZ COUNTY, Ariz. — Gov. Katie Hobbs has declared a "state of emergency" in La Paz County following the collapse of the Oxbow Bridge, which connected Arizona to California over the Colorado River.

The bridge caught fire earlier this month from a five-acre brush fire burning nearby and the structure collapsed into the river, according to the U.S. Bureau of Land Management.

As a result, the governor issued a declaration to free up state resources and funding to help with recovery efforts. The bridge had served as a critical crossing point over the Colorado River for emergency services, according to the declaration.

Furthermore, there is concern that debris from the bridge could create hazards for users of the Colorado River.

“The collapse of the Oxbow Bridge is a devastating blow to

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