The so-called Wallow Fire that has been raging in eastern Arizona is now the largest one in state history, as firefighters attempted to contain the blaze.
Local officials said on June 14 that more than 469,000 acres have been burned in the blaze with containment only 18 percent. The previous largest fire in state history was the Rodeo Chediski fire in 2002.
The wildfire has roared out of control for the past two weeks, charring Ponderosa pine forests and the countryside in eastern Arizona near the New Mexico border.
More than 10,000 people in the White Mountains region have been displaced in the Wallow Fire, with many only recently coming back to their homes. As the New York Times noted, the fire got its name after the Bear Wallow Wilderness in the Apache and Sitgreaves National Forests, where it is believed to have been started by a campfire.
“Good progress has been made on the fire’s southeast flank, where crews are working to slow the spread of fire and continue to build and improve containment lines and mop-up. There was minimal movement last night,” the Arizona Emergency Information Network said in an update on Tuesday.
On Sunday, around 7,000 residents returned to the towns of Eagar and Springerville, located near the border. Officials said that the communities of Greer, Nutrioso and Alpine are still evacuated to the continued “active fire behavior” nearby.
Especially dry conditions and high winds fueled the fire but over the weekend, the winds subsided, giving firefighters a window of opportunity to contain more.
U.S. Forest Service spokesperson Suzanne Flory told Reuters that the blaze is not under control just yet but “there’s a sense of optimism” that firefighters can prevent it from reaching the nearby towns.
More than 4,000 firefighters are working day and night to contain the fire.
Local officials said on June 14 that more than 469,000 acres have been burned in the blaze with containment only 18 percent. The previous largest fire in state history was the Rodeo Chediski fire in 2002.
The wildfire has roared out of control for the past two weeks, charring Ponderosa pine forests and the countryside in eastern Arizona near the New Mexico border.
More than 10,000 people in the White Mountains region have been displaced in the Wallow Fire, with many only recently coming back to their homes. As the New York Times noted, the fire got its name after the Bear Wallow Wilderness in the Apache and Sitgreaves National Forests, where it is believed to have been started by a campfire.
“Good progress has been made on the fire’s southeast flank, where crews are working to slow the spread of fire and continue to build and improve containment lines and mop-up. There was minimal movement last night,” the Arizona Emergency Information Network said in an update on Tuesday.
On Sunday, around 7,000 residents returned to the towns of Eagar and Springerville, located near the border. Officials said that the communities of Greer, Nutrioso and Alpine are still evacuated to the continued “active fire behavior” nearby.
Especially dry conditions and high winds fueled the fire but over the weekend, the winds subsided, giving firefighters a window of opportunity to contain more.
U.S. Forest Service spokesperson Suzanne Flory told Reuters that the blaze is not under control just yet but “there’s a sense of optimism” that firefighters can prevent it from reaching the nearby towns.
More than 4,000 firefighters are working day and night to contain the fire.
