A lightning-caused fire in the Four Peaks wilderness area has grown to 40 acres since it started Monday night, according to Carrie Templin, spokeswoman for the Bureau of Land Management.
Fire managers decided not to send crews into the wilderness area to fight the fire because of its remote location, steep terrain and excessive heat, Templin said in a statement Thursday.
The Peaks Fire is about 50 miles northeast of Apache Junction, officials said.
Fire crews monitored the fire, which started about 8 p.m. Monday, from the air. It was allowed to back down the slope into road areas where firefighters could safely construct fire lines, Templin said.
Forest roads surrounding the wilderness area were to remain open to the public, according to the statement. There were no immediate threats to any property.