May 19, 2002 2 min read

PRESCOTT, Ariz. (AP) – More than 500 firefighters were on the job Saturday battling the remnants of a 1,300-acre wildfire that burned to within three miles of the city’s downtown area. Officials said the blaze, which burned five homes and two other buildings and forced the evacuation of 1,500 people, was about 85 percent contained. No serious injuries were reported.

Infrared aerial photographs taken during the night were expected to help the 570 firefighters find hidden hot spots, information officer Bob Dison said.

“Oftentimes you can’t see the heat source because it may be hiding in a stump,” Dison said.

The fire burned to within about three miles of downtown Prescott, a city of 33,000 about 90 miles north of Phoenix.

Flames were spotted Wednesday in the nearby forest and spread quickly toward homes.

The blaze’s cause remained unknown.

Forest officials are taking steps to try to prevent similar wildfires.

Campfires are now forbidden in the Prescott National Forest, and camping in one of the forest’s three districts has been limited to campgrounds that charge fees.

Three other wildfires were contained during the week in Arizona, which has had its driest fall and winter in more than 100 years.

On Friday, U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman toured the Prescott area and designated the entire state a drought disaster area. The designation allows farmers and ranchers hurt by several years of drought to apply for low interest loans to help recover losses.

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On the Net:

Prescott National Forest: http://www.fs.fed.us

3/prescott/

National Interagency Fire Center: http://www.nifc.gov