PHOENIX — Gov. Katie Hobbs declared a state of emergency on Tuesday after a key bridge that connects a rural Arizona community to California burned down.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announced that the Oxbow Bridge burned and collapsed into the Colorado River at the beginning of August.

The wooden structure served the southern La Paz County community of Cibola. Before it burned, it connected Levee Road to the west side of the river.

According to BLM, the wildfire — which officials have dubbed the “Oxbrow 2 Fire” — rendered it impassible.

Why did Katie Hobbs declare state of emergency over Oxbow Bridge collapse?

Submerged hazards remain in the Colorado River, and there is concern that debris from the bridge could float downstream, causing further damage, according to her declara

See Full Page