Firefighters were working Wednesday to box in the 2,500-acre Birdie Fire, which had threatened the small village of Mormon Lake southeast of Flagstaff.
The fire was 50 percent contained as it burned about three miles from the village, and fire lines surrounded about 90 percent of the blaze.
Firefighters thought Mormon Lake was "pretty well protected at this point," said fire information officer Barbara Dougan.
Overcast weather and light winds were helping firefighters get a handle on the blaze and,
"We expect that containment numbers will soon go higher," Dougan said.
The air was still hazy with smoke Wednesday but residents were happy, said Linda Lockett, who owns Montezuma Lodge in Mormon Lake.
"Things have really calmed down significantly and there is a real sense of relief," Lockett said.
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Meanwhile, in extreme Northwestern Arizona near the Utah border, officials grappled with a 22,387-acre fire that had burned down a small garage or shed and threatened five ranch houses and several government buildings.
The Black Rock Gulch fire hadn't been very active and was about 20 percent contained Wednesday, said information officer Scott Sticha.
Cool weather and a bit of rain on Wednesday were helping firefighters, Sticha said.
Fire lines had been dug around the homes but residents hadn't been asked to evacuate, and Sticha said most buildings were safe now.
Fire has charred nearly 47,000 acres of Arizona forest and wildlands this year, according to government statistics.
At least nine fires of more than 100 acres were burning throughout the state Wednesday.
