The area around Arizona’s wildfires is so dry, firefighters’ heavy equipment is causing small flareups
The area near where two large wildfires have been growing for days in eastern Arizona is so dry that firefighters trying to tame the blaze have started fires sparked by their own equipment, officials said Tuesday.
The Telegraph Fire has burned more than 76,000 acres and the Mescal Fire has scorched more than 65,000 acres, according to the Interagency Incident Information Center.
“Even our own fire equipment is starting fires,” said Dean McAlister, a fire information officer. “The blades and the tracks of the (heavy equipment) sparking against the fuels have actually created some fires along the fire line.”
If the sky seemed hazy the past few days in the Pikes Peak Region, that is because smoke from wildfires in Arizona and New Mexico is wafting across Colorado.
News Release
PHOENIX
Governor Doug Ducey today issued two Declarations of Emergency in response to the Telegraph and Mescal Fires in Pinal and Gila Counties, making available up to $400,000 for response efforts.
The State of Emergency follows the Governor’s June 6 request to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for a Fire Management Assistance Grant. FEMA quickly approved the request the same day and will provide significant federal assistance for the local and state costs.
“Firefighters and safety officials have been working around the clock to protect Arizonans, and we need to make sure they have the support they need to successfully fight the wildfires in Pinal and Gila Counties,” Governor Ducey said. “I issued Declarations of Emergency so those responders will have the necessary resources to protect people, pets and property and we will continue to work closely with local officials to ensure the needs of those communities are met. Arizonans must tak