Weather helps prevent Arizona wildfire from spreading

CLINTS WELL, Ariz. – Favourable weather conditions are helping firefighters working to stop growth of a wildfire that has burned nearly 19 square miles (49 square kilometres) of north-central Arizona forest while destroying 30 buildings and closing a state highway.

Fire management team spokesman Brian Scott says cool temperatures and light rain has helped nearly 700 firefighters and other personnel virtually halt further spreading of the fire about 50 miles (80 kilometres) south of Flagstaff between early Tuesday and Wednesday.

Scott says firefighters are focused on protecting housing tracts on one side of the fire and securing a containment line on the opposite side to keep it out of a rugged canyon.

Authorities announced Tuesday that an illegal campfire that was abandoned started the fire Friday.