Arizona wildfire evacuation orders lifted for 100s of homes

CLINTS WELL, Ariz. – Evacuation orders have been lifted for hundreds of homes in north-central Arizona that were threatened by a wildfire that destroyed about 35 residences.

Fire managers say in a statement Friday that the fire near Clints Well about 50 miles (80 kilometres) south of Flagstaff has burned about 19.7 square miles (51 square kilometres) of forest and was 48 per cent contained.

Firefighters have containment lines around about half of the fire, which is near areas with vacation cabins and other residences.

Nearly 600 firefighters and other personnel are assigned to the fire which.

Authorities say it was started April 27 by an abandoned illegal campfire.