Most residents of Greer, Arizona, packed up their belongings and left on Saturday Fire crews are battling to contain a massive blaze in Arizona that is threatening mountain communities in the east of the state.
The fire, covering 225 sq miles (583 sq km) is being described as the third largest in the state’s history.
Smoke from the burning pine forests can be seen in neighbouring New Mexico and Colorado.
Arizona Governor Jan Brewer, who flew over the fire, described the rapidly moving blaze as a “frightening sight”.
The fire was expected to grow, given a forecast for winds and lightning.
Most residents of the resort town of Greer, in the White Mountains, left on Saturday, packing their belongings in to vehicles as what is being called the “Wallow Fire” moved closer.
On Sunday, the town was shrouded in smoke.
The towns of Alpine and Nutrioso were also menaced by the fire and residents who had not already left were standing by to evacuate.
Fire crews were lighting lines of smaller controlled fires in an effort to contain the advance of the wind-driven main blaze.
“It gives a much greater chance of it having diminished fire behaviour as it approaches the lines,” fire information officer Peter Frenzen told the Associated Press.
About 1,300 firefighters from across the United States were battling the fire, said Brad Pitassi, a spokesman for the area fire management team.
The fire is dwarfed in Arizona only by one in 2002 that burnt through 732 sq miles in the centre of the state and another in 2005 that scorched 387 sq miles near Phoenix.
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