Boulder View Fire grows, crews focus on structure protection

The Boulder View Fire near Scottsdale grew to more than 3,700 acres with no containment as of Saturday morning, authorities said.

Crews are “focusing on firelines and continue structure protection efforts. Crews will especially focus on the southeast part of the fire due to residences at risk and wind direction,” according to a release from the Department of Forestry and Fire Management.

Bartlett Lake recreation areas are inaccessible due to Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office closing Bartlett Dam Road at Cave Creek Road, officials said, adding there is no entry for recreation.

Tonto National Forest officials reported no containment Saturday morning and that the fire covered 3,736 acres.

Early Friday morning, 60 homes north of Dove Valley Road and east of 136th Street were on evacuation status.

“Firefighters proactively burned vegetation around these houses to protect them from approaching flames,” forestry officials stated in the release.

“Air resources and ground crews worked together throughout the day Friday on the southeast edge of the fire which had the most fire activity. Crews continued working in that area overnight and this morning, improving retardant lines.”