Weather helps Arizona firefighters

GREER, Ariz., June 21 (UPI) -- The Monument fire in southeastern Arizona was declared 40 percent contained Tuesday, officials said.

Firefighters got some help Monday from a drop in temperature and windspeed, The Arizona Republic reported. The fire has spread across 27,000 acres since it began in the Coronado National Forest June 12 and has gutted 58 houses, 14 barns and other buildings, and four businesses.

Weather conditions remained favorable Tuesday throughout eastern Arizona.

Arizona has had a record-breaking fire season. The Wallow fire, which has consumed more than 500,000 acres in Arizona and New Mexico and is the largest ever in Arizona history, continued to burn Tuesday while the Horseshoe Two fire in the southeast seemed likely to grow into the third largest in state history.

The Wallow fire was more than 50 percent contained.

The tiny town of Greer was reopened Tuesday more than two weeks after residents were forced to evacuate, CNN reported. The fire charred more than 20 homes as it swept through although many of the buildings survived.