Triple-digit heat dogs firefighters
TUCSON, ARIZ. » Hundreds of foothills homes on the outskirts of Tucson remained under an evacuation notice Friday as firefighters supported by helicopters worked to keep a wildfire from moving downhill from canyons and ridges in mountains in a national forest.
Most of the western United States is experiencing extreme dryness or drought, creating challenging conditions for wildfire season, Bryan Henry, meteorologist with the National Interagency Fire Center, said in a recent fire season outlook.
Authorities have said southern Arizona’s dry, hot weather and the steep, rocky topography have been the main challenges in fighting the fire. Friday was the hottest day yet for crews fighting the blaze, with temperatures forecast to reach 107 in the afternoon.
Brian Francis, senior forecaster for the National Weather Service in Tucson, said temperatures were projected to remain in the triple digits through the weekend and into early next week with a slight chance of dry thunderstorms that bring only a trace of moisture but can kick up gusts of wind.
Fire officials said the fire’s growth slowed overnight Thursday but that it remained a threat. Flames have been visible from Tucson at night, and smoke from the fire plumed over a suburb Friday morning.
Pima County officials on Thursday issued an evacuation notice for approximately 300 homes in a area south of the Coronado National Forest, and numerous other residents were told to prepare to evacuate.