FLAGSTAFF â A wildfire in a popular summer getaway in Arizona grew early Monday as crews tried to keep it in the mountain area and away from homes and a ski resort.
More than a dozen aircraft, including four air tankers, were dropping fire retardant and water on the blaze in the Flagstaff area that had grown to about 1.6 square miles .
Ground crews were working to establish containment lines.
âWeâre throwing a lot of resources at this fire,â Coconino National Forest spokesman George Jozens said. âWeâre trying to make sure itâs not coming out of that mountain into town.â
Mountain bikers, horseback riders, campers and hikers were evacuated around Mount Elden on Sunday, and thousands of nearby residents were told to be prepared to leave by packing supplies for at least three days.
The blaze was first reported Sunday. It was being fought by roughly 200 firefighters, including 10 Hotshot crews.
Smoke billowing from the mountain and the red glow at night have been foreboding images for the community that saw a massive wildfire on the east side of San Francisco Peaks in 2010, when hundreds of homes were evacuated and a girl died in subsequent flooding.
The current fire was burning in Ponderosa pines and mixed conifer between Mount Elden and the San Francisco Peaks, where Jozens said it could quickly pick up speed.
The terrain was posing more of a challenge for firefighters than the weather, officials said.
The fight could be aided by rain expected later in the week.
âAs far as specific amounts, itâs very hard to predict because of the scattered nature of the storms,â said Nathan Lynum, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Flagstaff.
Photos: Every available firefighting aircraft attacking fire near Flagstaff
The Museum Fire near Flagstaff
Updated
A helicopter flies past a large air tanker over the Museum Fire that still burns north of Flagstaff on July 22, 2019. At least 1,000 acres have burned and the fire continues to grow.
The Museum Fire near Flagstaff
Updated
A helicopter flies over the Museum Fire north of Flagstaff at sunset, Sunday, July 21, 2019. At least 400 acres have burned and the fire continues to grow.
The Museum Fire near Flagstaff
Updated
Light from hundreds of thousands of individual fires within the Museum fire create an ocean of light lapping at the slopes of the San Francisco Peaks as the fire burns Sunday, July 21, 2019, in Flagstaff, Ariz. (Jake Bacon/Arizona Daily Sun via AP)
The Museum Fire near Flagstaff
Updated
A helicopter flies past areas of fire retardant that was dropped on the Museum Fire that still burns north of Flagstaff on July 22, 2019. At least 1,000 acres have burned and the fire continues to grow.
The Museum Fire near Flagstaff
Updated
A helicopter drops water on the Museum Fire north of Flagstaff at sunset, Sunday, July 21, 2019. At least 400 acres have burned and the fire continues to grow.
The Museum Fire near Flagstaff
Updated
Map of the Museum Fire, as of July 21.
The Museum Fire near Flagstaff
Updated
The Museum Fire glows as it burns north of Flagstaff, Sunday evening, July 21, 2019. At least 400 acres have burned and the fire continues to grow.
The Museum Fire near Flagstaff
Updated
The Museum Fire glows as it burns north of Flagstaff on July 21, 2019.
The Museum Fire near Flagstaff
Updated
Light from hundreds of thousands of individual fires within the Museum fire create an ocean of light lapping at the slopes of the San Francisco Peaks as the fire burns Sunday, July 21, 2019, in Flagstaff, Ariz. (Jake Bacon/Arizona Daily Sun via AP)
The Museum Fire near Flagstaff
Updated
A heavy lift helicopter dragging it's water collection hose flies into the Museum Fire in Flagstaff, Ariz. to work on putting out hotspots jumping ahead of the fire line in support of firefighters on the ground below Sunday, July 21, 2019. (Jake Bacon/Arizona Daily Sun via AP)
The Museum Fire near Flagstaff
Updated
A helicopter comes out of the Museum Fire to refill it's Bambi bucket at a municipaL water tank on Schultz Pass Road in Flagstaff, Ariz., Sunday, July 21, 2019, while fighting hot spots in the fire. (Jake Bacon/Arizona Daily Sun via AP)
The Museum Fire near Flagstaff
Updated
A tree erupts in flame in the face of the Museum Fire Sunday, July 21, 2019 in Flagstaff, Ariz. (Jake Bacon/Arizona Daily Sun via AP)
The Museum Fire near Flagstaff
Updated
A helicopter drags a Bambi Bucket full of water through the sky on it's way to quench hot spots at the front of the Museum Fire burning in Flagstaff, Ariz., Sunday, July 21, 2019. (Jake Bacon/Arizona Daily Sun via AP)
The Museum Fire near Flagstaff
Updated
A helicopter carries a bucket of water to attack hot spots on the Museum Fire in Flagstaff, Ariz., Sunday, July 21 2019. (Jake Bacon/Arizona Daily Sun via AP)
The Museum Fire near Flagstaff
Updated
The Museum fire burns Sunday, July 21, 2019, as seen from the top of Switzer Mesa in Flagstaff, Ariz. (Jake Bacon/Arizona Daily Sun via AP)
