The Spring Fire burned 1,500 acres north of Phoenix on Saturday and closed portions of the northbound lanes of State Route 87 in the afternoon, wildfire officials said.
At approximately 1:40 p.m., the Tonto National Forest declared the wildfire at SR 87 and Forest Service Road 11, about 40 minutes north of the Phoenix area and south of Sunflower.
The Arizona Department of Transportation announced a closure of the northbound lanes of SR 87 because smoke was visible from the highway, the agency said.
At approximately 7:45 p.m., ADOT opened one lane of northbound SR 87, leaving only the right lane closed.
Five Hotshot crews and more than six aircraft were battling the fire Saturday evening, according to Tonto National Forest, which utilized resources from the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office and ADOT.
The cause of the fire was unknown as crews battled one of several wildfires burning across the state, fueled by hot and dry conditions.
SR 87 connects the valley to weekend destinations in northern Arizona such as Payson, Woods Canyon Lake, the Mogollon Rim and Show Low.
Northbound drivers needing to avoid the closures can expect to take US 60 east and then State Route 188 north.
Visit AZ511.gov for immediate updates on when the highway will reopen.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Spring Fire burns 1,500 acres, closes northbound SR 87
