Firefighters Continue Burnout Operations on Growing Arizona Wildfire

HANNAGAN MEADOW, Ariz. (AP) -- Firefighters conducted burnout operations Monday on a wildfire that has burned more than 6,600 acres of mountainous terrain in the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest.

A 15-mile stretch of Highway 191 will remain closed Tuesday as firefighters continue to burn fuel along the highway, which was two miles west of the blaze.

Jonetta Holt, a fire spokeswoman for the U.S. Forest Service, said that crews were successful with their burnout on the fire's west flank adjacent to the highway.

``It was very successful and everything appears to be within our lines,'' Holt said of the burnout areas.

No structures were threatened, she said.

Also on Monday, the Arizona Game and Fish Department was able to rescue about 30 Gila trout from Raspberry Creek. Biologist were concerned that the fire might put enough ash in the creek to endanger the species, Holt said.

The fire had burned about 6,642 acres but was 15 percent contained. There was no estimated date for full containment.

About 580 firefighters were battling the KP fire, which was about three miles south of Hannagan Meadow in the Blue Range Primitive Area. Firefighters also used helicopters to drop water over the fire's hot spots Monday.

The National Weather Service issued a red flag warning Monday, with winds reaching 30 mph.

Authorities said an abandoned campfire may have been the cause of the blaze, but it remained under investigation.