Officials say a suspicious wildfire started overnight along the Arizona-California border continues to grow, reaching nearly 2,200 acres as of noon on Thursday.
RELATED: Watch raw video from crews fighting flames
#TopockFire is the official name of the fire being referred to as #PirateFire in CA. The origin is in #AZ on the Topock NWR #AZFire #CAFire
— BLM Arizona Fire (@BLMAZFire) April 6, 2016
The "Topock Fire," burning south of Topock and northwest of Lake Havasu City, has burned 2,200 acres in both Arizona and California. The fire is now about 40 percent contained, according to an update on Thursday morning from fire crews.
#BREAKING evacuated resident told me "it was like Armageddon" for the #topockfire @abc15 @KTNV pic.twitter.com/tauZPT4ffm
— Joe Bartels (@Joe_Bartels) April 6, 2016
The Bureau of Land Management in Arizona said the fire originated on the Arizona side before spreading to California.
FAST FACTS: What you need to know now about the "Topock" fire
Mohave Valley Fire District said firefighters first responded to the fire around 4:30 a.m. Wednesday after receiving reports about a fire in the Havasu National Wildlife Refuge.
#TopockFire initiated in AZ; Unified Command into California w @SBCOUNTYFIRE, Mohave Valley Fire & @USFWSSouthwest https://t.co/12ncie8oG8
— BLM Arizona Fire (@BLMAZFire) April 6, 2016
PHOTOS: Wildfire burning near Lake Havasu
Flames sparked in Arizona, between Dike Road and Route 66, and winds pushed them across the Colorado River into California, Mohave Valley Fire says.
San Bernardino County Fire tweeted that structures are threatened, and one has so far been damaged by the flames. Mohave Valley Fire says threatened areas include RV parks and the Topock Marina.
A mandatory evacuation was put in place for the Pirate’s Cove and Park Moabi recreational areas. Evacuated are asked to head to a recreation center in Needles, Calif. at 1111 N. Bailey Ave, according to San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Office.
Late Thursday morning, Pirates Cove RV park residents were set to be escorted back to their homes to get personal belongings.
#PirateFire: (Update) #SBCoFD unified command w/ MojaveValley. Fire on CA side approx 15 acres. @sbcountysheriff pic.twitter.com/RKn7v8gyCi
— SB County Fire (@SBCOUNTYFIRE) April 6, 2016
Crews from Fort Mohave, Golden Shores, Bullhead City and San Bernardino County are currently on scene. Bureau of Land Management, Arizona Game and Fish and State of Arizona officials have also been called out due to the nature and location of the wildfire.
#UPDATE: we areclose to the fire line for the #topockfire
1 business damaged by fire at pirate cove resort. @abc15 pic.twitter.com/5vzV7oWSTu— Joe Bartels (@Joe_Bartels) April 6, 2016
Mohave County Fire Chief Ted Martin says the fire appears “suspicious in nature.”
#PirateFire: (Update)Mandatory Evacuations: Park Moabi & Pirates Cove, Evacuation Center 1111 Bailey Ave Needles Krn pic.twitter.com/f8JYXz3dqR
— SB County Fire (@SBCOUNTYFIRE) April 6, 2016
Stay with ABC15 for updates.
