Structures Destroyed, Entire Arizona Town Evacuated Due to Wildfire
Disaster Alert
April 8, 2021
Source: The Weather Channel
Approximate areas reportedly sustaining structural damage:
Arizona
– Dudleyville (Pinal County, 85192)
NOTE: This has NOT yet been declared a FEMA Major Disaster.
At a Glance
- The fire threatened the town of Dudleyville and forced the entire town to evacuate.
- At least 12 buildings were destroyed.
- Dangerous firefighting conditions will return this afternoon
After a long, strenuous day fighting back flames, Arizona firefighters finally stopped the forward progress on a fire that forced the evacuation of an entire community and destroyed multiple structures.
But dangerous fire conditions will return this afternoon.
All of the approximately 1,000 residents in the southern Arizona community of Dudleyville were told to evacuate Thursday afternoon due to a wildfire. Those evacuation orders were expected to remain in place until at least later Friday, despite the firefighters’ progress.
The blaze, called the Margo Fire, had destroyed at least 12 buildings. More than 70 others were threatened.
The fire is now 20 percent contained thanks to cooler overnight temperatures and lighter winds, but those conditions will worsen yet again this afternoon and remain dangerous for fires for days to come.
High temperatures will climb back toward the 90 and winds will pick up by the afternoon and could gust to 25 to 30 mph, according to weather.com senior meteorologist Jon Erdman. There’s absolutely no chance for rain in sight.
Lisette Padula, a spokesperson for Pinal County where the unincorporated community of Dudleyville is located, told weather.com all residents were under the county’s “Go” mode, which means to evacuate immediately. Padula said about 1,000 residents live in Dudleyville, and 73 residential buildings and one government building were threatened by the fire.
For full report, please click the source link above.
