Some residents go home as Wallow wildfire rages

NUTRIOSO, Ariz., June 16 (UPI) -- The Wallow fire is about 29 percent contained as firefighters work to remove safety hazards so evacuated residents could return to their homes.

Weather may be working against firefighting efforts, however, as the National Weather Service issued a red flag warning for Thursday and Friday, forecasting wind gusts of between 35-45 mph and extremely low humidity, the White Mountain Independent in Show Low, Ariz., reported.

Residents began returning to their homes in Nutrioso and White Mountain, but evacuation orders remain in effect for Sunrise, Greer, Blue River and Alpine. Pre-evacuation alerts also were in effect for Greens Peak, Hidden Meadows Lodge and surrounding areas in Arizona and for Luna, N.M., near the Arizona-New Mexico state line.

Investigators believe the Wallow Fire, the largest in Arizona's history, began May 29 at a campfire in the Bear Wallow Wilderness, but they have not ruled out other ignition sources, said Chris Knopp, a U.S. Forest Service supervisor.

Law enforcement have questioned two "persons of interest," The Arizona Republic in Phoenix reported. Although no arrests have been made, Knopp said he expected "hearing something from law enforcement within a week or two."

Meanwhile, the Monument fire south of Sierra Vista expanded to about 9,300 acres and forced the evacuation of hundreds of homes, TucsonSentinel.com reported.

Residents in several Hereford neighborhoods were ordered evacuated Wednesday, fire officials said. Pre-evacuation alerts were in effect for other areas. A 6-mile section of Arizona 92 also was closed.

The fire, about 17 percent contained, began Sunday in the Coronado National Memorial, then spread north and east in the Huachuca Mountains.

The human-caused Monument fire brings to three the number of wildfires burning in Arizona, with a fourth only recently extinguished, The Arizona Republic said. The blazes combined have burned at least 735,000 acres of forest and grassland so far.

"We're not seeing more fires than average," said Kenan Jaycox, director at the Southwest Coordination Center, "but our resources are getting tapped pretty exhaustively."

In New Mexico, the Loop fire, which started on the Carlsbad Caverns National Park scenic loop road Monday, was about 60 percent contained, allowing the 46,766-acre national park to reopen, the El Paso (Texas) Times reported.

The fire so far burned 30,438 acres.

After being closed for several days, the park's nightly bat flight was open to the public Wednesday.

"This is the worst fire that we can recall where we actually had to close the park," said Lila Roybal, chief park ranger at Carlsbad Caverns.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.