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23 Jun 2011 16:25

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U.S.: Southwest fires slowly (but surely) getting contained

  • monument Officials told the last of the evacuees from this fire that they can return home today. That’s the good news. The bad news: Though firefighters hope to declare potential victory soon, the fire is only 59 percent contained and may keep burning until mid-July.
  • wallow That one is still burning. The largest active fire in the U.S. and the largest in Arizona’s history, it’s currently around half the size of Rhode Island. A highway around the area is open now, but homes are still being evacuated. This fire is about 60 percent contained. source

07 Jun 2011 13:27

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U.S.: Arizona wildfire forces evacuations and shuts down airports

  • Arizona’s struggling with the third-largest wildfire in its history, which has already consumed over 230,000 acres of land. Low humidity and high winds aren’t making it easy for fire crews fighting the blaze, either (wind has carried burning embers up to three miles). The fires have forced people from their homes, the smoke has closed airports, and the Apache National Forest has shuttered in the wake of the blaze. On the bright side, the wildfires have only destroyed four summer rental cabins. Best wishes to those in Arizona affected by the fire, and hope for the safety of the firefighters out there. source