Evacuations Prompted After Sawtooth Fire Reaches 18,500 Acres

Published: Tuesday, June 2, 2020 - 4:01pm

The Sawtooth Fire in the Superstition Wilderness has prompted the evacuations of some residents in Queen Valley.

The fire had burned 1,850 acres and was about 8% contained as of midday Tuesday. A lightning strike started the fire Friday two miles northeast of the Peralta Trailhead.

Anne Thomas with the Tonto National Forest says “It is so that we can safely go out and do those treatments along that interface between the federal lands and their private land.”

It is not known how long it will take to control the fire, but officials recommend evacuees to be prepared to be away from their property for three days. Officials have established an evacuation center at the Queen Valley Community Center.