U.S. 60 was closed in both directions near Wickenburg on Monday after the Jones Fire burned an estimated 15 acres southeast of town, forcing evacuation orders for nearby residents and leaving officials unsure when the highway would reopen.

The closure was in place at milepost 111 as fire crews responded to brush burning along both sides of the river bottom and the highway. A GO alert was issued for residents from U.S. 93 to Zabel Mine Road, from the railroad tracks west of U.S. 60 to the area east of U.S. 60, telling them to evacuate. Four SEATs were ordered along with a Type 2 hand crew as the fire moved through salt cedar, cottonwood, grasses and brush.

Officials said the cause of the brush fire was unknown. The fire, called the Jones Fire, was burning along both sides of the river bottom southeast of Wickenburg and along the highway, making the closure harder to lift quickly. Information on the fire was gathered from social media posts by the Arizona Department of Transportation and the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management.

The immediate problem is simple: the road remains shut, and the fire is still active. Until crews get the Jones Fire contained enough to make the corridor safe again, drivers should expect U.S. 60 to stay closed and evacuees to remain under orders.