Wildfires Threaten Exclusive Ariz. Area

[newyawker99]

Residents of about 200 homes and guests at a resort hotel were urged to evacuate as flames from a wildfire licked at an exclusive enclave on the city's northern fringe.

The voluntary evacuation notice of the homes in Ventana Canyon came Sunday after strong winds pushed the fire downhill faster than expected, fire officials said. Some 300 homes have already been destroyed.

The fire, which started June 17 and has burned at least 70,000 acres, skirted fire lines last week and burned six cabins between Friday night and early Saturday.

The flames came about a half-mile from the nearest homes Sunday. Fire officials expressed confidence that the homes would be safe, at least partly because many are made of stone or brick.

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