Record Setting Wildfire Continues to Burn in Arizona

By Douglas V. Gibbs

Southern California has had a few fires pop up, but none of them have gotten out of control...yet.

The same cannot be said for Arizona, where a wildfire has burned over 469,000 acres over more than two weeks. The fire remains completely out of control, and has crossed over into New Mexico. Firefighters are working to keep the fire from entering any more populated areas, carving containment lines around 18 percent of the fire's perimeter.

The fire has been dubbed The Wallow Fire, believed to have been started by an unattended campfire east of Phoenix. Many homes have been burned to the ground, and as many as 10,000 people have been displaced from their homes.

The forest pines have served as fuel for the massive fire, now having burned about 733 square miles, making the Wallow Fire the largest on record in Arizona.

The Wallow Fire has so far destroyed 31 homes and damaged five others.

-- Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary

Arizona wildfire sets new record at 469,000 acres - Reuters

Official: Arizona wildfire is now largest in state history - CNN