Thousands evacuated as fire engulfs Arizona
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23/06/2002
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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.