High winds worsen Romero, Circle fires burning 9,600 acres near Kearny

Strong winds from a passing thunderstorm late Saturday intensified a pair of fires that have collectively burned 9,600 acres near the town of Kearny, according to authorities on Sunday.

The Romero and Circle fires, roughly 14 miles southwest of Kearny — and about 90 miles southeast of Phoenix — grew overnight as firefighters have been unable to contain either blaze amid the storm that brought erratic, 50-mph winds.

Both fires come just under a week since the Freeman Fire scorched 32,568 acres to the south.

Winds pushed the Romero Fire about 650 acres to the northwest, hitting pockets of mesquite, grass, brush and desert shrub — heavy fuel for fires — the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management reported in its latest update.

The surrounding communities of Oracle, Mammoth and Kearny, as well as those traveling along State Routes 79 and 77, likely witnessed smoke columns from the firefighting operations and weather, the department noted.

Pinal County placed residents of the 3C Ranch community under a “set” pre-evacuation status on Saturday afternoon, advising them to be ready to evacuate if the nearby Romero Fire worsens.

The fire has so far burned 6,900 acres since igniting Friday, according to Forestry and Fire. The neighboring Circle Fire, which started the same day, has burned 2,700 acres.

Investigators have yet to determine a cause for either fire, as crews are working to contain them first.

As the Romero and Circle fires continue, authorities have closed Freeman Road and asked motorists to avoid Barkerville and Willow Springs roads. A portion of the Arizona Trail between Oracle and Kearny is closed to hikers, who are advised to use an alternate route.

Fire crews assigned to battle the Romero Fire will work Sunday to get ahead of its move toward the north by scouting for new control lines and improving existing ones installed Saturday, Forestry and Fire stated.

They’ll also brace for the possibility of another storm that’s likely to bring more high winds during the afternoon. Such winds “could result in extreme fire behavior” like they saw Saturday.

Shawn Raymundo covers the West Valley cities of Glendale, Peoria and Surprise. Reach him atsraymundo@gannett.com or follow him on X @ShawnzyTsunami.