CNN: Fed by drought, wildfires scorching Western US

Wildfires scorching Western U.S.
Firefighters compete for manpower, equipment
Thursday, June 22, 2006

(CNN) -- Fed by drought, wildfires continue to move across parts of the the Western United States, devouring acreage in New Mexico, Colorado, California and Arizona.

In central Arizona just south of Flagstaff, firefighters worked late Wednesday in an effort to contain the Brins Fire by Thursday, according to incident commander Paul Broyles.

The fire has consumed 2,456 acres in Oak Creek Canyon, two miles northeast of Sedona. Firefighters were able to prevent the blaze from crossing State Highway 89A, but the containment line on the north side of the canyon was breached, causing "serious concern," Broyles said.

Earlier in the day, 5 percent of the fire was contained. A view from a helicopter 11,000 feet up showed the canyon filled with smoke. In places, a gray haze was pierced by glowing rivulets of fire nestled deep within crevices -- unreachable by tanker planes....

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So far this year, wildfires have swept across 3,123,689 acres nationwide, more than four times last year's total for the same time period, the (National Fire Information Center) said.

http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/06/22/western.wildfires/index.html

Why, in Iraq, of course. :eyes: