SPRINGERVILLE, AZ -- A wildfire believed to have started over the weekend in Eastern Arizona is still growing according to fire officials.
Bob Dyson, with the U.S. Forest Service, said Thursday the 'Bachelor Fire,' located between Payson and Heber, has grown to 640 acres up from 500 on Tuesday.
Dyson said officials are happy with progress made on the containment lines and burnouts have so far been successful.
Crews were forced to scale back containment efforts Thursday afternoon as the humidity level dropped and wind speed increased, meaning unfavorable conditions for containment efforts.
Dyson said the fire is now 60 percent contained and crews expect to have the fire fully contained by Saturday.
Although the 'Bachelor Fire' is moving closer to structures in two nearby subdivisions there is no immediate threat to them and no evacuations have been ordered.
Dyson said Wednesday the 'Bachelor Fire' has burned about 1/3 mile down the steep slope of the Mogollon Rim in Colcord Canyon and likely will continue to burn downhill over the next several days.
The fire is now estimated at 500 acres, up from 200 on Tuesday, but officials said the fire is 40 percent contained as of Wednesday.
Officials said Tuesday they had significant progress containing the 'Bachelor Fire' and two others discovered at the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests on Saturday and Sunday.
According to officials, firefighters were able to improve lines on the north, east and west sides of the 'Bachelor Fire' on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Dyson said officials are asking that travelers avoid going near the area and be cautious traveling on Forest Road 512, as heavy smoke is limiting visibility. Forest Road 9512E leading to a number of popular camping areas along the Rim is closed to public travel.
About 112 crew members are assigned to this fire from the Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, and the Arizona Department of Corrections.
According to officials, October is normally an active prescibed fire season for the national forests across Arizona, but human-caused wildfires have recently become a problem on the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests.
Dyson said investigators are continuing to gather evidence as crews work to keep the fire suppressed.
According to Dyson, the availability of firefighting resources has been limited because most crews and seasonal employees have been laid off for the season.
