SHOW LOW, Ariz. - The Cedar Fire has now burned a total of 42,802 acres, officials said Wednesday.
The wildfire has been burning southwest of Show Low and Pinetop-Lakeside, east of Highway 60 on the Fort Apache Indian Reservation since last Wednesday. The cause remains unknown.
At one point, firefighters had achieved 40 percent containment, but record-breaking heat and dry conditions caused rapid growth this week, and the fire was only about 22 percent contained as of Wednesday morning.
Navopache Electric Co-Op shut down power lines in the Cedar Creek area earlier this week for the safety of firefighters in the area, but fire managers say those operations have wrapped up and no further shutdown of the lines is expected.
The communities of Show Low, Pinetop-Lakeside, Hon-Dah, McNary and Cedar Creek remain under pre-evacuation notice.
If an evacuation order comes down, people will be evacuated to Round Valley Middle School in Eagar via SR 73 and then SR 260 east or Holbrook High School to the north.
Livestock may be taken to Round Valley Rodeo Grounds, the Holbrook Fairgrounds, and the Taylor Rodeo Complex.