U.S. fire-fighters are bombing the first Arizona wildfires of the year with retardant liquid from the air.
They're fighting to contain at least four large outbreaks.
This fast moving blaze, named the Gladiator Fire, had destroyed at least 22 square kilometres of forest and grassland and several buildings by early Thursday.
SOUNDBITE: JOE REINARZ, U.S. FOREST SERVICE, SAYING (English):
"We're not sure that that is going to stop it until we get boots on the ground, but we cannot go in there when there is a high probability that it's going to take off."
Strong winds, dry weather, and the rugged mountainous terrain are hampering efforts to tackle the fires in central and eastern Arizona.
Fire-fighters are digging out containment lines with hand tools to stop the spread of the fires.,
The state suffered a record season for fires last year when almost 2, 000 blazes were recorded.
Paul Chapman, Reuters
