Ariz. Reels As 3 Of The Biggest Wildfires In Its History Ravage State

“Extreme weather has contributed to the vast blazes – with the pandemic complicating the emergency response.

For residents of Tucson in southern Arizona, the Santa Catalina Mountains in the Coronado national forest are known as a hub for hiking, mountain biking and other outdoor recreation.

But on 5 June lightning ignited a wildfire that has grown to engulf over 118,000 acres. The fires are still only 58% contained. Called the Bighorn fire, it is the eighth-biggest in state history, and it has transformed the Catalinas into a hub for the study of the impacts of climate change. Nasa satellite photos show large scar marks left by the fire. …

And yet, Bighorn is just one of three fires that sit in the top 10 biggest wildfires in Arizona history.”

Steve Horn reports for the Guardian July 2, 2020.