At a Glance
- The fire has burned more than 175 square miles of land.
- Some 700 homes have been evacuated.
- More than 900 personnel are battling the blaze, including efforts to save an ancient tree.
A wildfire in Arizona's Tonto National Forest expanded over the weekend and has now burned more than 175 square miles.
The Woodbury Fire was 25% contained as of 11:30 a.m. Monday, according to the National Forest Service. The source of the fire was still under investigation but the forest service said in a report Sunday night that it was "human caused."
The blaze started June 8 in the national forest near Superior, Arizona, about 30 miles east of Phoenix. About 700 homes have been ordered to evacuate.
(MORE: Oil Refinery Explosion Caught on Satellite)
Continued hot, dry weather conditions fueled the fire's spread over the weekend.
"The lines that we had contained previously are still contained, it's just the fire is growing," forest service spokesperson Kait Webb told The Arizona Republic Sunday. "So the piece of the fire that we have contained is becoming a smaller percentage of the entire fire."
Firefighters were also working to save an ancient tree from the blaze, the newspaper reported. Experts with the Tonto National Forest estimate that the "Medusa Mother Tree" is between 600 and 1,000 years old. It sits in the Superstition Wilderness.
"They did take extra efforts to put some protection measures in place in the area, and they think that was successful," Kay Beall, a fire information officer said.
More than 900 personnel are battling the blaze, and the forest service's Monday morning report said the flames were moving into a different type of vegetation that wouldn't burn as easily. But the fire isn't expected to be fully contained until July 15.
In a separate update, the forest service said there had been no damage to structures and no major injuries, although some personnel have been treated for minor lacerations and heat-related illnesses. The high temperature in the area today was forecast to be 94 degrees, and temperatures are expected to rise as the week goes on.
The fire is burning in what's typically the driest time of the year.
The Tonto National Forest was the first agency in Arizona to implement fire restrictions that limit campfires and smoking to developed areas earlier this month because of the wildfire. Others are following suit.
