CASA GRANDE, Ariz. — Officials are offering a reward for information on a destructive hay fire in Casa Grande that may have been intentionally set.
The burning hay was first reported on the morning of July 28 near Roughcut Drive and Stampede Way, which is in an area between Eloy and Casa Grande. The fire is believed to have started at about 2:30 a.m.
The Casa Grande Fire Department said no surrounding buildings were in jeopardy and firefighters remained on the scene to monitor the situation.
The four stacks of hay were expected to burn for several days and residents in the surrounding communities were advised to keep windows closed and limit HVAC use, according to the Eloy Fire District.
Silent Witness Casa Grande AZ is now offering $50,000 for information about the fire that may lead to an arrest. Tips can be submitted by calling 520-836-2100.
Up to Speed
What is the Valley?:
“The Valley” is what locals call the Phoenix Metropolitan Area. It is considered the largest metropolitan area in the Southwest.
The Valley is made up of various major cities other than Phoenix, including:
- Mesa
- Chandler
- Scottsdale
- Tempe
- Glendale
- Surprise
- Peoria
- Gilbert
- El Mirage
- Avondale
- Litchfield Park
- Goodyear
- Buckeye
Whether a city is in the “East Valley” or “West Valley” depends on where it is in relation to Phoenix.
The cities of the Valley have a combined population of 4,845,832 people, according to the 2020 United States Census. This makes it the 11th largest metropolitan area in the country right behind the Boston and Atlanta areas.
How big is Maricopa County?:
Maricopa County is the United States’ 4th largest county in terms of population with 4,485,414 people, according to the 2020 Census.
The county contains around 63% of Arizona’s population and is 9,224 square miles. That makes the county larger than seven U.S. states (Rhode Island, Delaware, Connecticut, Hawaii, New Jersey, Massachusetts and New Hampshire).
One of the largest park systems in the nation is also located in Maricopa County. The county has an estimated 120,000 acres of open space parks that includes hundreds of miles of trails, nature centers and campgrounds.
The county’s seat is located in Phoenix, which is also the state capital and the census-designated 5th most populous city in the United States.