Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Arizona Wallow Fire Burning Stronger, Wildfire Video Stream

The Arizona wildfire, now named the Wallow fire is now the second largest fire in the state's entire history. The fire has now consumed 311,481 acres of land across Arizona and is threatening New Mexico.

This live feed shows the scale of the fire:

The Wallow Fire is a currently ongoing wildfire located in eastern Arizona, United States, in the White Mountains near Alpine. As of June 7, 2011, it has burned about 311,481 acres (486.689 sq mi; 126,052 ha). About 2,700 to 3,000 people have been evacuated, with more expected. The communities of Alpine, Blue River, Greer, Nutrioso, Sunrise, Eagar, and Springerville in Arizona were evacuated. Furthermore, South Fork was under pre-evacuation notice in Arizona, while Luna was under a pre-evacuation notice in New Mexico. Additionally, the Apache National Forest was closed to the public.

Officials say the wildfire is about 10 miles (16 km) outside the adjacent towns of Eagar and Springerville, where residents are preparing to evacuate.

"If given the word, then I'm gonna go," Eagar resident Gerald McCardle told the Associated Press news agency. "We're already packed. We packed last night, and we're out of here."