Winds in Phoenix to clear smoke from wildfire
by Associated Press
May 15, 2012 | 435 views | 0 0 comments | 3 3 recommendations | email to a friend | print
An air tanker drops retardent on a fire Monday, May 14, 2012, near Crown King, Ariz. Fire crews spent the weekend fighting several wildfires including the four and a half square mile blaze near Crown King. (AP Photo/Matt York)
An air tanker drops retardent on a fire Monday, May 14, 2012, near Crown King, Ariz. Fire crews spent the weekend fighting several wildfires including the four and a half square mile blaze near Crown King. (AP Photo/Matt York)
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CROWN KING, Ariz. (AP) — Smoke from one of several Arizona wildfires that has shrouded the Phoenix area was expected to be cleared by winds Tuesday as firefighters worked to contain another blaze in the northern part of the state that has forced residents from homes in a historic mining town.

The fire near Crown King began on private land Sunday and burned about 2 square miles by as of Tuesday, with zero containment. The 1,300-acre, human-caused blaze has destroyed two buildings and one trailer, Prescott National Forest spokeswoman Debbie Maneely said.

The Crown King area remained under a mandatory evacuation order, though authorities said most of the town's 350 residents had chosen to stay in the community of mostly summer homes.

Maneely said most residents likely were staying with family and friends.

Meanwhile, a fire south of Payson was 5 percent contained by Tuesday after charring nearly 7 square miles in the Tonto National Forest. Smoke from that fire drifted into Phoenix over the weekend. Authorities have yet to determine a cause.

The fire, and several others burning in Arizona, follow a warning from state land managers that hot temperatures and dry vegetation have created a very high fire risk in some areas.

Crown King is a popular destination for all-terrain vehicles because of its numerous hills and gorges. It is located in the mountains more than 85 miles north of Phoenix.

Greg Flores, owner of The Prospector shopping center and president of the Crown King Chamber of Commerce, said he helped a couple and their pug dog flee during a house fire.

It wasn't immediately clear if the house was the one where authorities say the wildfire began.

"The whole house was fully engulfed," Flores said, adding, "There were flames over 100 feet tall when we got up there."

Flores said that the fire had turned a ridge black, destroying much of the forest there. "It's just horrible," Flores said.

Flores and his wife had to leave their home early Monday after ash began raining down. They spent the night on the floor in the store and have since been able to return home.

The fire overtook a portion of Crown King Road, making the road to the mountain town inaccessible, a sheriff's office statement said.

Flores said most residents own four-wheel-drive vehicles and many were using them to access back roads due to the main road's closure.

With more than 400 cabins that draw weekend visitors, Flores said, he's glad this fire didn't break out during the upcoming Memorial Day weekend.
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