TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) -- Rain soaked parts of a mountain wildfire for the first time since the blaze broke out nearly a month ago and destroyed more than 300 homes and cabins, helping firefighters who are trying to keep it from growing.
The fire in the Santa Catalina Mountains overlooking Tucson should be fully contained by Tuesday evening, fire information officer Dick Fleishman said Saturday. The 84,750-acre blaze was 80 percent contained by firebreaks on Saturday.
Officials said one-quarter to three-tenths of an inch of rain fell on the mountains along with some hail.
``In the Summerhaven and Palisades area, they got a pretty good soaking last night,'' Fleishman said. The fire started June 17 near Summerhaven, a summer vacation community near the top of Mount Lemmon.
Fleishman said the rain caused some erosion in burned areas. A rehabilitation team had started work to prevent additional damage.
Authorities say they have no suspects or strong leads in their investigation of the human-caused fire. A $5,000 reward has been posted.
In neighboring New Mexico, firefighters had a 5,370-acre fire near Taos Pueblo about 40 percent contained a week after it was started by lightning. Fire officials estimated the fire would be fully contained Tuesday.
No evacuations had been ordered, but fire officials have been worried about keeping the flames from eating into Taos Canyon, site of nearly 400 homes. Historic Taos Pueblo and its casino remain closed to the public Saturday.
Large fires also were active Saturday in Colorado, Oregon, Utah and Washington, the National Interagency Fire Center said. So far this year, wildfires have blackened just over 1 million acres, compared to nearly 3.2 million acres at this same time last year, the center reported.
