Evacuation notices going out to Holbrook residents

Holbrook Highlands residents are being warned they may want to leave their homes as the 7,200-acre Slinkard Fire burns north toward Holbrook Junction.

The fire has closed Highway 395 at the junction, where traffic is being detoured through Wellington

Fire activity continued to be erratic this morning despite light winds, with most of the growth on the northern and western sides.

“The community of Holbrook Junction is our protection priority, along with improving dozer lines and defending Leviathan lookout,” fire spokesman Brian Reublinger said.

Electricity could be restored to 661 Liberty Utility customers in the Topaz-Walker corridor by this evening.

Liberty Utilities spokeswoman Kathy Carter said the power company hopes to either have the lines re-energized or a temporary generator in place.

Power was cut by the fire on Thursday as the fire hopped Highway 395.