Arizona's wildfires continue to grow and have now spread across the border into the state of New Mexico. The Wallow Fire, which broke out in what authorities believe was an unattended campfire in the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest on May 29, has now spread to around 450,000 acres, destroying 29 houses and damaging another 5. Some 2,700 residences remain threatened. Full evacuation of the Arizona towns of Springerville and Eager, which have 2,000 and 4,000 residents respectively, has been lifted, though fire activity and health risks associated with the air quality continue. Evacuations remain effective in Sunrise, Greer, Blue River, Alpine, Nutrioso, as well as the Escudilla Mountain Estates, Bonita, White Mountain Acres, and the H-V Ranch. While firefighters have extended their burnout operations just northwest of Luna, New Mexico, no evacuations have been ordered in the state. There are currently more than 4,000 firefighters from across the United States working in the area with 15 helicopters and 5 air tankers available to fight the fires - which are expected to cost over $10 million in damages.
Here's a look at the latest images from the Wallow Fire:
Smoke from the Wallow Wildfire obscures the sun at a road check point west of the Reserve, New Mexico June 13, 2011. The fire has blacked 336,000 acres (136,000 hectares), making it the second largest forest fire on record in Arizona, as it cut through the popular mountain retreat of Greer in the eastern part of the state.REUTERSA National Guard vehicle turns onto Highway 180 from a side road as smoke rises from the Wallow Wildfire outside Luna, New Mexico June 9, 2011. The massive wildfire that has displaced as many as 11,000 people in eastern Arizona held steady in size on Thursday, and fire officials said they hoped weaker winds and cooler temperatures would help them begin to contain the blaze.REUTERSWildland firefighters watch as a heavy helicopter fetches water from Luna Lake on the eastern edge of the Wallow Wildfire outside Alpine, Arizona near the state border west of the town of Luna, New Mexico as a flare up erupts north of the lake June 13, 2011. The fire has blacked 336,000 acres (136,000 hectares), making it the second largest forest fire on record in Arizona, as it cut through the popular mountain retreat of Greer in the eastern part of the state.REUTERSHeavy helicopters fly to Luna Lake to fetch water, on the eastern edge of the Wallow Wildfire outside Alpine, Arizona near the state border west of the town of Luna, New Mexico as a flare up erupts north of the lake June 13, 2011. The fire has blacked 336,000 acres (136,000 hectares), making it the second largest forest fire on record in Arizona, as it cut through the popular mountain retreat of Greer in the eastern part of the state.REUTERSA heavy helicopter returns to Luna Lake after dropping water on a flair up north of the lake, on the eastern edge of the Wallow Wildfire outside Alpine, Arizona near the state border west of the town of Luna, New Mexico June 13, 2011. The fire has blacked 336,000 acres(136,000 hectares), making it the second largest forest fire on record in Arizona, as it cut through the popular mountain retreat of Greer in the eastern part of the state.REUTERSA wildland firefighter extinguishes a hot spot on the eastern edge of the Wallow Wildfire outside Alpine, Arizona near the state border west of the town of Luna, New Mexico June 13, 2011. The fire has blacked 336,000 acres (136,000 hectares), making it the second largest forest fire on record in Arizona, as it cut through the popular mountain retreat of Greer in the eastern part of the state.REUTERSSmoke from the Wallow wildfire obscures the setting sun as friends Cody Derrick (L) and Dalon Hulsey talk about the approaching fire in Luna, New Mexico June 10, 2011. Forest fire teams in eastern Arizona seized on a second straight day of light winds on Friday to press their assault on the monster blaze that has displaced some 10,000 people and scorched well over 600 square miles.REUTERS
