Crews brace for strong winds, explosive fire growth in West

By FELICIA FONSECA
Associated Press

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) — After a brief break in the weather allowed for new aerial attacks on some of the many fires burning in the Southwest, crews are preparing for ferocious winds to return through the end of the week. Resources are tight, and fire managers are scrambling to get crews on board. Hundreds of residents have been evacuated. One of the biggest blazes near Flagstaff, Arizona, has grown to more than 32 square miles. Helicopters were able to drop water on that fire for the first time Thursday. Forest Service officials in New Mexico says there is “high confidence that a widespread extreme and catastrophic fire weather event will occur on Friday.”