A fire burning through the north end of the Prescott National Forest has caused nearby communities to evacuate, fire officials said.
The wildfire, named the Rafael Fire, has burned 24,064 acres and is 0% contained as of Tuesday morning, officials said.
The wildfire was one of eight fires ignited in the same area after a lightning storm passed through the north end of the Prescott National Forest on Thursday.
Officials said the Rafael Fire grew from 400 acres to over 18,000 acres Sunday afternoon, engulfing the other adjacent smaller fires.
Extreme drought throughout Arizona forced firefighters to manage the eight fires in a complete suppression mode, officials said. Fires in remote locations are monitored via air until ground crews gain access.