By Bryan Navarro
June 13, 2011
MEDFORD, Ore. -- The Wallow Fire has scorched 440 thousand acres in Arizona. The fire is at 10% containment, and has destroyed 34 structures so far. The fire is threatening to be the largest in Arizona's history.
These days, the skies above Southern Oregon are more likely to be filled with rain clouds than smoke. As a result, local private fire fighting crews are going where they're needed - Arizona.
Crews from Southern Oregon are joining the fight by air and on ground.
Executives from Grayback say Oregon and Washington are home to a major portion of the country's private fire fighting companies.
Grayback Forestry has four 20-hand crews on the ground in Arizona, 3 of which are from Southern Oregon. They arrived a week ago and are supporting local agencies.
20 helicopters are working the fire. One is from Erickson Air Cranes.
4 rigs from local BLM and the U.S. Forest Service are also fighting the Arizona wildfires.
