Arizona wildfire grows to 300 square miles
An enormous wildfire that forced the evacuation of several mountain communities in eastern Arizona grew Monday to more than 300 square miles, sending smoke and haze across five states and as far east as Iowa, authorities said.
Section:Picture story
Smoke from the Wallow Fire covers a firefighter camp in Eagar, Ariz., on Monday, June 6, 2011.
The Arizona Republic, Michael Chow Associated Press
Officials said the blaze has burned nearly 193,000 acres since it started more than a week ago near the White Mountain town of Alpine. Authorities believe an abandoned campfire may have sparked the blaze. So far, the flames have destroyed five buildings. No serious injuries have been reporte
Associated Press
Smoke from the Wallow Fire covers Eagar, Ariz., on Monday, June 6, 2011.
The Arizona Republic, Michael Chow Associated Press
Justin Murel, 16, waters the garden as smoke from the Wallow fire fills the town of Greer, Ariz., Sunday, June 5, 2011.
Jae C. Hong Associated Press
Judy Cline, an antique shop owner, puts her hands together while talking to two officers from the Arizona Rangers as she evacuates her shop in Greer, Ariz., Sunday, June 5, 2011.
Jae C. Hong Associated Press
Barbara Keehn, 56, waters plants as heavy smoke from the Wallow fire fills the town of Greer, Ariz., Sunday, June 5, 2011.
Jae C. Hong Associated Press
Fire trucks leave a firefighter base camp set up near Eagar, Ariz., to battle the Wallow fire on Monday, June 6, 2011.
Jae C. Hong Associated Press
Smoke from the wildfire spread to nearby states, and as many as 1,000 miles away. A ridge of high pressure was carrying the haze to central Iowa, said Kyle Fredin, a National Weather Service meteorologist in Denver. The smoke was visible in New Mexico, Colorado, Nebraska and Kansas.
Associated Press
Horses graze in a field as smoke from the Wallow wildfire fills the air in Eagar, Ariz., Monday, June 6, 2011.
Jae C. Hong Associated Press
Roughly 2,500 firefighters, including many from several western states and as far away as New York, are working to contain the wildfires, fire information officer Peter Frenzen said.
Associated Press
Firefighters listen during a briefing about the Wallow Fire in Eagar, Ariz., on Monday, June 6, 2011.
The Arizona Republic, Michael Chow Associated Press
Kristi Spillman, left, and her boyfriend Michael Carter Jr. wear bandanas as they gather their belongings in Greer, Ariz., Sunday, June 5, 2011.
Jae C. Hong Associated Press
Robert Joseph, 64, rides his ATV as smoke plumes from the Wallow fire fill the sky in Luna, N.M., Monday, June 6, 2011. Firefighters worked furiously Monday to save a line of mountain communities in eastern Arizona from a gigantic blaze that has forced thousands of people from their homes and cast a smoky haze over states as far away as Iowa.
Jae C. Hong Associated Press
Navajo County Sheriff’s Deputy, who declined to give his name, looks at smoke plumes from the Wallow fire as he talks to a truck driver in the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest near Luna, N.M., Monday, June 6, 2011.
Jae C. Hong Associated Press
Smoke plumes from the Wallow fire rise over the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest near Luna, N.M., Monday, June 6, 2011.
Jae C. Hong Associated Press