The Simmons Fire that broke out Tuesday burned at least 300 acres north of Kearny and prompted immediate evacuations.
The fire was reported about 10 miles north of Kearny on the east side of the Gila River around 6:20 p.m., according to the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management.
Around 8 p.m., the state forest ranger said the fire was spreading southeast due to strong winds.
Pinal County Sheriff’s Office evacuated residents in the Riverside neighborhood outside Kearny and designated Ray Elementary School as an emergency meeting place for displaced residents.
The Arizona Department of Transportation closed State Route 177, which runs through Kearny, with no estimated time to reopen.
This article originally appeared in the Arizona Republic: Road closures and evacuations near Kearny as Simmons Fire burns
