May 23, 2013
Firefighters in eastern Arizona have finally had some success in stopping a huge wildfire from spreading. But now, the focus of that effort is shifting across the border to New Mexico.
Crews have been lighting fires around the town of Luna in hopes of stopping the advance of the flames.
Over the weekend on the Arizona side, high winds didn't bring major growth of the fire, which has been burning since Memorial Day. And residents of two towns on the northern edge of the fire were allowed to go back home.
An undersheriff in New Mexico's Catron County says crews trying to protect Luna are "pretty confident" that they'll succeed.
The eastern Arizona fire has grown to more than 700 square miles. It's just 10 percent contained. But firefighters are sounding increasingly confident that their efforts are paying off.
Several other fires also are burning around Arizona. And a 2,700-acre wildfire near the New Mexico-Colorado border is threatening about 200 homes and businesses.
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