A small wildfire near Strawberry has forced the evacuation of campers and the shutdown of a popular recreation area.
The fire started shortly before midnight Wednesday, about 12 miles west of Strawberry near a ridge named Ike’s Backbone. It has burned 1,200 acres around where Fossil Creek meets the Verde River.
The Coconino National Forest closed Fossil Creek, a popular spot for hiking and swimming, because of the wildfire. Firefighters who had been working on another blaze that has nearly wrapped up in Cornville responded to the one near Strawberry. More resources were on the way Thursday, including aircraft, the Forest Service said.