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Stiff winds test gains of wildfire crews in Arizona

Reuters: Fire crews battling stubborn flames in eastern Arizona's mountainous pine forests braced on Thursday for a return of stiff winds that could reverse gains against the largest wildfire in state history. By daybreak, a force of more than 4,600 firefighters had managed to extend containment lines around nearly 30 percent of a blaze that has charred an area half the size of Rhode Island in and around the Sitgreaves-Apache National Forest. Fire information officer Kelly Wood said much of the effort...

Arizona wildfire investigators question two people

Reuters: Investigators probing the origins of Arizona's biggest wildfire on record are questioning two people in connection with an unattended campfire believed to have started the blaze, the U.S. Forest Service said on Wednesday. The "two persons of interest" have not been publicly identified and are not under arrest, Forest Service spokesman Christopher Knopp said, declining to give further details of the investigation. Meanwhile, ground crews battling the flames for an 18th day took advantage of...