A mammoth forest fire has expanded today as wind-whipped flames tore through the canyons of the eastern mountains, forcing firefighters to retreat from the flames that raced through the popular vacation spot, Greer. The fire is raging uncontained along Arizona's eastern border as high winds and low humidity triggered a declaration of emergency to coordinate the entire state's response.
The National Weather Service has issued a 'Red Flag Warning' for southeastern Arizona, most of New Mexico, as well as parts of northern Texas, Colorado and Oklahoma amid critical fire weather conditions.
Officials ordered the evacuation of 8,000 residents from Springerville and Eager while the flames from the Wallow fire are threatening power supplies across the region. This may lead to blackouts through sections of Texas and New Mexico.
The blaze has burned well over 600 square miles of ponderosa pine forest, driven by wind gusts of more than 60 mph, since it was sparked May 29 by what authorities believe was an unattended campfire. Half the size of Rhode Island, the fire has become the second-largest in Arizona history. It cast smoke as far east as Iowa and forced some planes to divert from Albuquerque, N.M., some 200 miles away.
Thousands of firefighters, including many from several western states and as far away as New York are helping out and forest supervisor Christopher Knopp said the cost of fighting the Wallow fire has approached $8 million and is rising.
Here's a look at the latest photos out of Arizona:
Wayne Lutz rakes dead grass as he tries to protect his house from the Wallow Wildfire in Eagar, Arizona. A stubborn wildfire in eastern Arizona that has forced the evacuation of as many as 3,000 people flared out of control for a 10th day on Tuesday and advanced on two more mountain towns near New Mexico. At midday Tuesday, fire officials said the so-called Wallow Fire had charred more than 311,000 acres (126,000 hectares) since it erupted on May 29, and now ranks as the second-largest wildfire in Arizona's history.REUTERSSmoke from the Wallow Wildfire rises over Round Valley High School Stadium in Springerville, Arizona June 7, 2011. A stubborn wildfire in eastern Arizona that has forced the evacuation of as many as 3,000 people flared out of control for a 10th day on Tuesday and advanced on two more mountain towns near New Mexico. At midday Tuesday, fire officials said the so-called Wallow Fire had charred more than 311,000 acres (126,000 hectares) since it erupted on May 29, and now ranks as the second-largest wildfire in Arizona's history.REUTERSFirefighters rest after working on the Wallow Wildfire at the Springerville Rodeo Grounds in Springerville, Arizona June 8, 2011. A wildfire believed sparked by inattentive campers blazed unchecked for an 11th day in eastern Arizona on Wednesday, leaving at least 600 square miles of pine forest blackened and menacing several mountain towns near the New Mexico border. The monster blaze, ranking as Arizona's second-largest wildfire on record, has chased up to 2,000 people from homes in and around two communities in immediate danger, Eager and Springerville, since Tuesday, fire officials reported.REUTERSSmoke from the Wallow Wildfire billows over the White Mountains as the sun sets in Springerville, Arizona June 8, 2011. The wildfire, believed to be sparked by inattentive campers, blazed unchecked for an 11th day in eastern Arizona on Wednesday, leaving at least 600 square miles of pine forest blackened and menacing several mountain towns near the New Mexico border.REUTERSSmoke from the Wallow Wildfire billows over the White Mountains near Eagar, Arizona June 7, 2011. A stubborn wildfire in eastern Arizona that has forced the evacuation of as many as 3,000 people flared out of control for a 10th day on Tuesday and advanced on two more mountain towns near New Mexico. At midday Tuesday, fire officials said the so-called Wallow Fire had charred more than 311,000 acres (126,000 hectares) since it erupted on May 29, and now ranks as the second-largest wildfire in Arizona's history.REUTERSMotorist travel along U.S. Highway 60 as smoke from the Wallow Wildfire fills the sky in Springerville, Arizona June 8, 2011. The wildfire, believed to be sparked by inattentive campers, blazed unchecked for an 11th day in eastern Arizona on Wednesday, leaving at least 600 square miles of pine forest blackened and menacing several mountain towns near the New Mexico border.REUTERSArizona Department of Trasportation workers prepare to close off a section of U.S. Highway 60 due to the Wallow Wildfire in Springerville, Arizona June 8, 2011. A wildfire believed sparked by inattentive campers blazed unchecked for an 11th day in eastern Arizona on Wednesday, leaving at least 600 square miles of pine forest blackened and menacing several mountain towns near the New Mexico border. The monster blaze, ranking as Arizona's second-largest wildfire on record, has chased up to 2,000 people from homes in and around two communities in immediate danger, Eager and Springerville, since Tuesday, fire officials reported.REUTERS
