Wildfires rip through US State of Arizona in summer heat

Arizona already saw two massive fires from early this month, including Telegraph and Mescal fires, which burned down more than 160,000 acres (674.5 square kilometers) of forest and grassland.

According to InciWeb, an interstate incident information system, Telegraph Fire, which started on June 10 in Pinal County, less than 1 mile from the 250-person community Top-of-the-World, was estimated at 88,589 acres (358.5 square kilometers) with 74 percent containment as of Monday, Xinhua reported.

"Active fire activity burning in timber with grass and under-story, brush and timber with litter and under-story, has warranted numerous evacuation status alerts." InciWeb reviewed the fire, which was listed as one of the biggest wildfires in the state's history.

Meanwhile, Mescal Fire, which started on June 1, spread to 72,250 acres (292.4 square kilometers) with 88 percent containment, the InciWeb said Monday, adding there had been no increase in size for the fire for the last four days, however, a new fire, called Gravel Fire, was reported near the scene on Sunday.

Another new wildfire, dubbed Cornville Fire, was also reported on Sunday about 160 kilometers north of Phoenix, capital city of Arizona, and scorched 1,200 acres as of Monday, according to the InciWeb.

One outbuilding was destroyed in the blaze and several other structures were threatened, a tweet from Arizona State Forestry said, adding evacuations were prompted by the wildfire.

"The fire continues to move to the east/northeast with fire activity expected to increase as temperatures warm up. Extreme temperatures and dry winds, along with rugged terrain will challenge firefighters today," InciWeb said Monday.

Arizona State Forestry also said in a news release on Saturday that critical fire weather would have the potential for "rapid fuel ignition and fire spread with very erratic and extreme fire behavior."

The release said the state had already seen 208,190 acres (842.5 square kilometers) burned in 848 wildfires this year, compared to 138,443 acres (560.3 square kilometers) burned in 902 wildfires over the same time period last year.

MA/PR