Thousands evacuated as fire engulfs Arizona

  • 23/06/2002

  • Asian Age (New Delhi)

Authorities ordered the 7,700 residents of this eastern Arizona mountain community to evacuate Saturday night as a mammoth fire breached a hastily constructed fire line on its western edge. Authorities were also planning to evacuate 3,500 residents from neighbouring Pinetop-Lakeside. The mandatory evacuation order came as the fire, which had burned more than 150,000 acres of forest since Tuesday.