Arizona wildfires: intense conditions send smoke plumes billowing into sky

Fueled by gusty winds through drought-stricken remote terrain, wildfires burning north of Flagstaff, Arizona, exploded in size on Monday, with officials estimating more than 24,000 acres (9,700 hectares) had been blackened by Tuesday morning.

Fire crews battling the blaze have faced intense conditions that have caused extreme fire behavior and sent enormous smoke plumes swirling into the sky.

By Tuesday, the winds had calmed and aircraft were again in motion, offering hope that progress could be made on the fire while conditions were more favorable.

The blaze was also pushing into Coconino Peaks wilderness area and tribal lands and cultural sites to the north, Graeser said.

Residents around the city looked toward the mountains as smoke billowed through the air and winds howled, some scared, some nervous most hoping that moisture in the forecast later this week brings some relief.

The climate crisis has set the stage for increasing wildfire intensity, delivering hotter temperatures that bake moisture out of parched landscapes. Wildfires broke out early this spring in multiple states in the western US, where the climate crisis and an enduring drought are fanning the frequency and intensity of forest and grassland fires.

The number of square miles burned so far this year is more than double the 10-year national average, and states like New Mexico have already set records with devastating blazes that destroyed hundreds of homes while causing environmental damage that is expected to affect water supplies.