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The Wallow Fire: A look back
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The Wallow Fire: A look back

  • Aug 23, 2012
  • Aug 23, 2012 Updated May 6, 2013

The Wallow Fire started on May 29, 2011 and burned through nearly 538,000 acres of Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest to become the largest wildfire in state history.

The Wallow Fire

The Wallow Fire

The Wallow Fire enters the town of Greer, Ariz., on June 8, 2011.

Photo courtesy Jason Coil

The Wallow Fire

The Wallow Fire

The Wallow Fire in Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest burning out of control in June, 2011.

Photo courtesy Jayson Coil

WALLOW FIRE

WALLOW FIRE
Smoke tinted orange by the sun billows from the Wallow Fire burning in the Bear Wallow Wilderness southwest of Alpine, Ariz., on Wednesday June 1, 2011. Greg Bryan/Arizona Daily Star

WALLOW FIRE

WALLOW FIRE
Flames engulf trees looking south from Forest Route 24 as the Wallow Fire burns in the Bear Wallow Wilderness southwest of Alpine, Ariz., on Wednesday June 1, 2011. Greg Bryan/Arizona Daily Star

WALLOW FIRE

WALLOW FIRE
Smoke tinted orange by the sun billows over Forest Service trucks at the intersection of FS 26 and FS 24 as the Wallow Fire burns in the Bear Wallow Wilderness southwest of Alpine, Ariz., on Wednesday June 1, 2011. Greg Bryan/Arizona Daily Star

Wallow Fire

Wallow Fire
Surprise Firefighter Tracy Wright mops up a hot spot near Greer on Saturday. Jill Torrance/Arizona Daily Star

Wallow Fire

Wallow Fire
Surprise firefighters Wes Odom and Jimmy Niesen mop up hot spots near Greer on Saturday. Firefighters are trying to clean up as many hot spots as they can before the afternoon winds arrive. Jill Torrance/Arizona Daily Star

Wallow Fire

Wallow Fire
Surprise Firefighters walk along side their engineer looking for hot spots near Greer on Saturday. Jill Torrance/Arizona Daily Star

Wallow Fire

Wallow Fire
A firefighter uses a drip torch to ignite dry brush in Nutrioso on Friday, June 10, 2011. Firefighters took advantage of the calm conditions to set back burn operations. Jill Torrance/Arizona Daily Star

Wallow Fire

Wallow Fire
A firefighter uses a drip torch to ignite dry brush near in Nutrioso on Friday, June 10, 2011. Firefighters took advantage of the calm conditions to set backburn operations. Jill Torrance/Arizona Daily Star

Wallow Fire

Wallow Fire
Greer residents Michael Carter II, center, and his partner Kristi Spillman, left, listen intently during the community meeting at the evacuation center at Blue Ridge High School on Saturday. Jill Torrance/Arizona Daily Star

Wallow Fire

Wallow Fire
Greer resident Don Driggs asks a question during the community meeting at the evacuation center at Blue Ridge High School on Saturday. Jill Torrance/Arizona Daily Star

Wallow Fire

Wallow Fire
Firefighters use a chainsaw to clear brush and fuels in Nutrioso on Friday, June 10, 2011. Jill Torrance/Arizona Daily Star

Wallow Fire

Wallow Fire
A grove of burned trees stand like sticks along Highway 191 south of Alpine on Friday, June 10, 2011. Jill Torrance/Arizona Daily Star

The Wallow Fire June 10

The Wallow Fire June 10
Freelance photographer Thomas Gaulke, of Germany, photographs smoke from the Wallow Fire near Springerville, Ariz., Friday, June 10, 2011. The major wildfire in Arizona's eastern mountains burned out of control early Friday after charring more than 603 square miles of timber, destroying dozens of structures and keeping thousands of evacuees away from their homes. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) Jae C. Hong

The Wallow Fire June 10

The Wallow Fire June 10
Firefighters fighting the Wallow Fire work on a backburn operation along the highway near Nutrioso, Ariz., on Friday, June 10, 2011. (AP Photo/Susan Montoya Bryan) Susan Montoya Bryan

The Wallow Fire June 10

The Wallow Fire June 10
Apache County Sheriff Joe Dedman, center, goes over a map of the Wallow Fire with fellow Apache County resident Dave Nez, at left, in Springervile, Ariz., Friday, June 10, 2011. Apache County was among the communities affected by the fire. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez) Marcio Jose Sanchez

The Wallow Fire June 10

The Wallow Fire June 10
Firefighter Craig Ogden of the Red Rock Interagency Crew looks on before going to fight the Wallow Fire in Luna, N.M. on Friday, June 10, 2011. A massive wildfire in eastern Arizona that has claimed more than 30 homes and forced nearly than 10,000 people to evacuate is likely to spread into New Mexico soon, threatening more towns and possibly endangering two major power lines that bring electricity from Arizona to West Texas. (AP Photo/ The Arizona Republic, David Wallace) David Wallace

The Wallow Fire June 10

The Wallow Fire June 10
A firefighter protects a backburn to fight the Wallow Fire in Nutrioso, Ariz., Friday, June 10, 2011. A massive wildfire in eastern Arizona that has claimed more than 30 homes and forced nearly than 10,000 people to evacuate is likely to spread into New Mexico soon, threatening more towns and possibly endangering two major power lines that bring electricity from Arizona to West Texas.(AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez) Marcio Jose Sanchez

The Wallow Fire June 10

The Wallow Fire June 10
A forest burns during a backburn operation to fight the Wallow Fire in Nutrioso, Ariz., Friday, June 10, 2011. A massive wildfire in eastern Arizona that has claimed more than 30 homes and forced nearly than 10,000 people to evacuate is likely to spread into New Mexico soon, threatening more towns and possibly endangering two major power lines that bring electricity from Arizona to West Texas.(AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez) Marcio Jose Sanchez

The Wallow fire June 9

The Wallow fire June 9
Firefighters line up for a meal as smoke from the Wallow Fire fills the sky at an incident command center in Eagar, Ariz., Thursday, June 9, 2011. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez) Marcio Jose Sanchez

The Wallow fire June 9

The Wallow fire June 9
Smoke raises from the Wallow fire as it burns towards homes south of Eagar, Ariz. After reportedly being sparked by a campfire, the 525-square mile fire has become the second-largest wildfire in state history and is still growing. (Photo by Rob Schumacher/The Arizona Republic) Rob Schumacher

The Wallow fire June 9

The Wallow fire June 9
The Navajo Hotshots, out of Fort Defiance, Ariz., prepare to leave for the firelines to fight the Wallow Fire at an incident command center in Eagar, Ariz., Thursday, June 9, 2011. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez) Marcio Jose Sanchez

The Wallow fire June 9

The Wallow fire June 9
Smoke from the Wallow Fire rises over a neighborhood in Eagar, Ariz., Thursday, June 9, 2011. A spot fire at the edge of the larger blaze prompted the few residents left in Springerville and the neighboring community of Eagar to flee. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez) Marcio Jose Sanchez

The Wallow fire June 9

The Wallow fire June 9
Firefighters walk up a hillside as they fight the Wallow Fire in Eagar, Ariz., Thursday, June 9, 2011. A spot fire at the edge of the larger blaze prompted the few residents left in Springerville and the neighboring community of Eagar to flee. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez) Marcio Jose Sanchez

The Wallow Fire has grown to nearly 607 square miles

The Wallow Fire has grown to nearly 607 square miles
Danika Busenan hangs a sign for firefighters battling the Wallow fire outside a hospital in Springerville, Ariz., Wednesday, June 8, 2011. A raging forest fire in eastern Arizona has scorched an area the size of Phoenix, threatening thousands of residents and emptying towns as the flames raced toward New Mexico. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) Jae C. Hong

The Wallow Fire has grown to nearly 607 square miles

The Wallow Fire has grown to nearly 607 square miles
The Wallow Fire consumes trees in the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest on June 1, 2011. Courtesy Apache-Sitgreaves NF Submitted Photo

The Wallow Fire has grown to nearly 607 square miles

The Wallow Fire has grown to nearly 607 square miles
In this Tuesday, June 7, 2011 photo, fire lights up a hillside south of State Route 260 Tuesday evening and building lights shine in the foreground. A raging forest fire in eastern Arizona has scorched an area the size of Phoenix, threatening thousands of residents and emptying towns as the flames raced toward New Mexico. (AP Photo/ The Arizona Republic, Pat Shannahan) Pat Shannahan/The Arizona Republic

The Wallow Fire has grown to nearly 607 square miles

The Wallow Fire has grown to nearly 607 square miles
From left, Cheyann Alba, her uncle Mark White and cousin Chelsea Soderberg evacuate with their family's horses as the Wallow Fire approaches in Eagar, Ariz., Wednesday, June 8, 2011. A raging forest fire in eastern Arizona has scorched an area the size of Phoenix, threatening thousands of residents and emptying towns as the flames raced toward New Mexico.(AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez) Marcio Jose Sanchez

WALLOW FIRE

WALLOW FIRE
Fire crew trucks along Forest Route 24 are dwarfed by large plumes of smoke from the Wallow Fire burning in the Bear Wallow Wilderness southwest of Alpine, Ariz., on Wednesday June 1, 2011. Greg Bryan/Arizona Daily Star

Related to this collection

Alpine residents ordered to evacuate as fire advances

Alpine residents ordered to evacuate as fire advances

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Expect more of the same costly, difficult-to-fight Arizona wildfires

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E. Ariz. blaze devours 60,000 acres in 2 days

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E. Ariz. Wallow Fire slows but still threatens

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Some gains reported to blunt Wallow Fire

Some gains reported to blunt Wallow Fire

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