Wildfire north of Fountain Hills closes State Route 87

SUNFLOWER, AZ - About 90 firefighters were still fighting a fire along State Route 87 Thursday night, after a car caught fire earlier in the afternoon, spreading flames through nearly 200 acres.

 One southbound lane was open around 10 p.m., after both northbound lanes were reopened in the early evening. Crews have reportedly gotten the fire 70 percent contained.

"Anytime we look out and see a plume of smoke, like with this new Sycamore Fire, people get alert," said Janet Heekin, who lives nearby.

Investigators say a driver's luggage rack caught fire, burning the driver's arm and spreading flames into the rolling hills covered in dry brush north of Fountain Hills.

"He had quite a few children in the car, he worried for their safety and he immediately left the area," said Department of Public Safety Officer Eric Lamb.

Lamb said the man was fully cooperative and alerted authorities immediately. The Forest Service is still investigating the cause of the fire, but officials say it was most likely an accident.

The fire scorched 187 acres, as six planes, two helicopters and more than 100 ground crews worked through 110-degree heat.

Drivers on SR 87 were backed up for about an hour in both directions.

"It's been a nice hot day," said Peter Nielson, whose camping trip was delayed because of the fire. "We went over to a splash park and kind of enjoyed ourselves, got out of the heat. It's not been too bad."

A couple of miles away, Janet Heekin and her husband David, who live in the area covered in dry vegetation, said they are prepared and have a neighborhood alert system in case a fire does break out dangerously close to home.

"You mentally catalogue if you have to get out, what goes in the truck first," said David Heekin. "It would be her photo albums."

Officer Lamb said fires along SR 87 are common, mostly because of vehicles overheating.

He recommends drivers service their cars before hitting the road in the summer heat and turn off the air conditioning when climbing steep hills. He said it is also a good idea to always carry plenty of water.

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