CROWN KING, Ariz. — Firefighters battled a growing wildfire Monday in northern Arizona that has forced residents from their homes in a historic mining town just weeks ahead of the busy tourist season.

The fire in Crown King began on private land Sunday and grew to more than 4 1/2 square miles, destroying two buildings and one trailer, Prescott National Forest spokeswoman Debbie Maneely said.

The blaze started at a “structure” and was human-caused, she said.

Crown King is a popular destination for all-terrain vehicles because of its numerous hills and gorges. It is located in the mountains more than 85 miles north of Phoenix.

The fire, and several others burning in Arizona, follow a warning from state land managers that hot temperatures and dry vegetation have created a very high fire risk in some areas.

The Crown King area remained under a mandatory evacuation order, though authorities said most of the town’s 350 residents had chosen to stay in the community of mostly summer homes.