Alaska wildfire quickly grows, forcing 1,700 homes to evacuate and closing key highway

Northbound traffic is backed up on the Parks Highway near Willow, Alaska, on Monday, June 15, 2015, as state troopers allow southbound traffic to move through a wildfire area. The wildfire north of Anchorage shut down a key highway and forced the evacuation of 1,700 homes after it mushroomed in size from just two acres Sunday afternoon to more than 10 square miles by early Monday, officials said. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen) (The Associated Press)

Northbound traffic is backed up on the Parks Highway near Willow, Alaska, on Monday, June 15, 2015, as state troopers allow southbound traffic to move through a wildfire area. The wildfire north of Anchorage shut down a key highway and forced the evacuation of 1,700 structures after it mushroomed in size from just two acres Sunday afternoon to more than 10 square miles by early Monday, officials said. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen) (The Associated Press)

An Alaska wildfire that's mushroomed in size is prompting help from people offering their homes to scores of displaced residents and their animals.

The human-caused fire reported north of Anchorage Sunday led to the voluntary evacuation of up to 1,700 homes. One firefighter was treated for heat exhaustion.

Fire information spokesman Tim Mowry says 210 residents signed in at evacuation centers in Houston and near Talkeetna.

Residents with properties away from the fire are taking to Facebook on a site dedicated to the fire to offer their homes and properties to displaced people.

Among them is Kendra Zamzow, who is offering space for people and animals on her 2-acre property in the community of Chickaloon about 50 miles southeast of the fire. Zamzow says she has plenty of room.