A wildfire in northern Arizona has spread rapidly to more than 6,000 acres due to significant winds and dry conditions.
Officials from Coconino County stated over 200 people were working to put out the fire, but as of Tuesday evening, they had not been able to achieve it.
About 14 miles north of Flagstaff, the so-called Tunnel Fire was raging, according to Fox News. Nearly 800 families and over 1,000 animals were relocated from the area, which is home to more than 2,000 people, according to county officials.
Coconino County Sheriff Jim Driscoll said that the evacuation procedure "was very difficult" due to the "rapid movement and progression" of the wildfire, which made the situation more complicated in comparison to past incidents.
According to Driscoll, his office received calls from people stranded in their homes, but officials could not reach them due to the fire. He stated that it is yet unknown whether those individuals survived.
Wildfire Threatens The Northeast Area
Officials say the fire has burned at least two dozen structures and is threatening hundreds more as it advances northeast.
Driscoll said that the fire was "moving so fast" that it put officers "in harm's way themselves."
"I'm very proud of the fact that we were able to get this evacuation done despite the rapid progression of the fire," he noted.
The fire threatens local power and gas distribution networks, as well as historical and cultural institutions and 150 companies, as per a news release from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) on Tuesday.
According to a statement from the Coconino National Forest, the fire has evolved drastically due to high winds and is rapidly spreading toward the northeast.
Weather conditions are expected to make the rest of the week difficult for authorities.
Meteorologist Robert Rickey said that there would be no significant decreases in the wind. " I don't see any big bump-ups in humidity and, at this point, we're not really expecting any precipitation either," he noted.
A fire investigation team has been ordered and will be on the scene by Wednesday, according to Matt McGrath, district ranger for the Coconino National Forest.
The cause of the fire is being investigated, according to a report from CNN.
The Red Cross established an evacuation center at Sinagua Middle School in Flagstaff, and officials urged evacuees to drop off animals and livestock at other locations.
Residents Advised To Stay Updated
County officials declared a local emergency as a result of the fire and advised residents to check the county's website for updates on the fire's progress.
According to the news release, FEMA approved the request for federal funds, covering up to 75% of qualified firefighting expenditures.
According to the National Interagency Fire Center, nearly 2,000 wildland firefighters and support personnel were assigned to more than a dozen enormous wildfires in the Southwestern, Southern, and Rocky Mountain regions.
Climate change, as per scientists, has caused the United States to become more vulnerable to natural disasters. In the last 30 years, per USA Today report, the West has become significantly warmer and drier, leading to more extreme weather conditions and more frequent and devastating wildfires.