CAVE CREEK, Ariz. (AP) -- A lightning-sparked fire that had at one point threatened dozens of homes northeast of Phoenix had grown to 124,000 acres by Tuesday and was expected to keep spreading.
Firefighters on Tuesday were expecting weather conditions that could cause the fire to behave erratically and grow significantly, said Dave Killebrew, a spokesman for the crews fighting the Cave Creek Complex fire.
Some isolated ranches were potentially threatened by the blaze but there were no reports of any damage as of early Tuesday.
About 800 firefighters were assigned to the fire, which was 25 percent contained.
A fire burning near Roosevelt Dam remained at 19,370 acres and was 40 percent contained Tuesday, said Rick Hartigan, a spokesman for the team fighting the fire.
Full containment for the Three Complex fire was expected by Thursday.
A line had already been built around the blaze and firefighters mopped up the fire and patrolled the lines Tuesday, especially in the northern flanks about 5 miles away from the Punkin Center and Tonto Basin areas.
No structures were threatened by the fire.
