Arizona towns at risk as wildfires hit U

Southwest.

More than 1,000 firefighters in Arizona and Colorado were battling five major blazes that have consumed more than 55 square miles canada goose factory sale (142 square km) of ponderosa forest, brush and grass, and uk canada goose outlet a new canada goose uk black friday blaze erupted in Utah on Thursday.

The blazes were the first major wildfires in Arizona this year, after a record 2011 fire season in which nearly 2,000 blazes together swallowed more than 1,500 square miles canada goose uk outlet (3,900 square km), according to the National Interagency Fire Center.

The Gladiator Fire in central Arizona, which has already destroyed four structures and forced the evacuation of about 350 residents of the old mining town of Crown Canada Goose Jackets King earlier in the week, was threatening two more tiny communities. Forest Service spokeswoman Debbie Maneely said canada goose uk shop residents of Battle Flat and Pine Flat, which canada goose have fewer than cheap canada goose uk 50 homes combined, have been alerted to evacuate within 24 hours.

Maneely said the situation was critical, with Canada Goose Outlet predictions of winds buy canada goose jacket blowing 40 to 50 canada goose coats on sale miles per hour (64 to 80 km per hour), and that more crews and equipment were being called in to fight the blaze, which has canada goose outlet vancouver burned about 15 square miles in the Prescott National Forest since Sunday.

praying for the firefighters safety, said Lynn Ray, the manager of an emergency shelter for evacuees at a school in Mayer, Arizona, where billowing gray black smoke from the Gladiator canada goose store Fire was clearly visible.

who have homes are anxious to get back but have no idea right now as to when they be able to get back. It a wait and see situation, she added.

PROGRESS buy canada goose jacket cheap AGAINST LARGEST FIRE Meanwhile, crews made slow progress against the biggest of the Arizona Canada Goose Parka fires, which has scorched 22.6 square miles in the Tonto canada goose clearance National Forest, about 40 miles north of Phoenix, since it started on May 12.

The Sunflower Fire was 15 percent contained on Friday, up from 10 percent a day earlier, Fire information officer Rick Hartigan of the Canada Goose sale Arizona Central West Zone canada goose clearance sale Incident Management team said. He tried cheap Canada Goose unsuccessfully to douse the flames before fleeing the scene. Attorney office in Denver said. He faces a $300 fine for starting a fire on federal land without a permit, although prosecutors said they also would pursue him for restitution costs.

More than a dozen homes were placed on a mandatory evacuation order, although none have been lost.

Governor John Hickenlooper declared the fire a disaster emergency on Friday, activating the Colorado National canadian goose jacket Guard and freeing up $3 million to assist in fire suppression efforts.

In Utah about 100 firefighters were battling the 500 acre (202 hectare) 73 Fire, which began on canada goose black friday sale a state road about 60 miles southwest of Salt Lake City.

By expeditionparkaoutlets midday, the blaze was about 50 percent contained, with light rain Canada Goose Coats On Sale and cool temperatures aiding firefighters, although expected high uk canada goose winds for the Canada Goose Online afternoon could pose a threat. No homes or structures have been threatened.

Additional reporting by Keith Coffman in Denver and canada goose coats Jennifer Dobner Canada Goose online in Salt Lake City; Writing by Mike Saucier and Cynthia Johnston; Editing by Xavier Briand and Lisa Shumaker.