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.