Officials say the U.S. highway from Flagstaff to the Grand Canyon is closed because of a wildfire on a mountain north of the city.
A section of U.S. Highway 180 is closed about 10 miles north of Flagstaff because of smoke from the fire burning on the slopes of Kendrick Mountain.
Credit Kaibab National Forest
The fire started last week following a lightning strike in a wilderness area just west of the state highway. The area has lots of dead and downed trees that were killed in a 2000 wildfire. The fire grew significantly Thursday because of high winds and has consumed nearly three square miles. Fire crews kept it from jumping the highway.
Credit Neil Weintraub/USFS
The National Forest Service says it will decide Friday morning whether it is safe to reopen the highway.
Credit Neil Weintraub/USFS
