Containment efforts of a wildfire burning near a northern Pinal County community have prevented the need for evacuations, officials said Thursday morning.
The lightning-caused wildfire near Queen Valley has has grown to more than 24,000 acres and is 8% contained. It began May 30 in the Superstition Mountains.
Approximately 300 personnel including engines, handcrews, air attack, and helicopters are fighting the blaze.
According to an Incident Management Team,firefighters are fully suppressing the Sawtooth Fire to protect nearby communities and other values at risk in the area.
This week firefighters made progress on fire containment along the southern and eastern portions of the fire, working in conjunction with air resources. Structure protection measures were successful in the Queen Valley and Elephant Butte communities. Wednesday afternoon, fire activity picked up to the northwest in Peralta Canyon. Air resources dropped retardant and water on the fire in this area, slowing its progress, officials said.