Winds threaten to blow fires across Arizona, New Mexico

Just keeps on growing. This could become something never seen before..

ARIZONA and New Mexico face a heightened risk of fire as strong winds are forecast to sweep through both states Friday, according to the National Weather Service.

The relentless winds threaten to spread an 11,600-acre fire in southern Arizona that torched 40 homes and forced the evacuation of hundreds on Thursday.

The winds could undo some of the progress made by crews battling the Wallow blaze that has burned an area of the Apache - Sitgreaves National Forest.

"Yes it is a threat. Anything could happen," said Terry Stemmler, a spokesman for the Southwest Incident Management Team, which is battling the latter of the two blazes.
Stemmler said crews are faced with four straight days of red flag warnings that started Thursday with the return of strong winds to a dry region. A red flag warning means weather conditions -- high winds and low humidity -- pose an extreme risk for fire.

Official: Campfire caused AZ wildfire


[link to www.cnn.com]