According to Arizona fire officials, a fire in the western part of the Cave Creek Regional Park had grown to 1,500 acres and 40 percent contained as of late Sunday evening.

The human-caused desert fire tripled in size since Rural Metro Fire’s estimate of 500 acres Sunday evening. At present time, no homes had been lost, however 100 and 130 homes have been evacuated.

“This is not one of those things that is over in a couple of hours,” he said. “It’s actually terrifying,” Cave Creek Mayor Ernie said.

Daisy Mountain Fire and Medical spokesman Paul Schickel said, “Normally fires lie down quite a bit at night and this one has been flaring up.”

Initially 30 homes were in immediate danger, Schickel said, but so far only a recreational vehicle and one shed had been lost in the fire’s destruction.

The East Desert Fire broke out in a 5- to 8-acre stretch near 24th Street and Desert Hills Drive in the afternoon. Mandatory evacuation orders moved out people from Morning Star Road south to Ocotillo Road and from 55th Street to the Seven Sisters Mountain Range.

High winds pushed the fire into canyons and washes that had heavy dry vegetation.

The fire department and other agencies called in aircraft and helicopters to drop water and fire retardant onto the flames. Approximately 400 firefighters have been assigned to the blaze.

The Red Cross has set up temporary shelter for evacuees at the town hall at Cave Creek Road near Hohokam Place.