Arizona has seen wildfires blaze across its state, forcing hundreds of people to evacuate their home as the state battles a recent spike in COVID-19 cases.
What’s happening:
- Arizona has seen the Bush Fire — which is burning about 30 miles northeast of Phoenix — stretch across 64,000 acres of land on Saturday, according to Arizona fire officials.
- The Bush Fire is the largest active burning fire in the U.S. right now, per ABC-15.
- Arizona fire officials said: “Danger in these areas is imminent and life threatening.”
- Firefighters have to battle winds of 20 to 30 miles per hour, along with the dry summer heat. Temperatures could climb more than 100 degrees, Dee Hines, a fire agency spokesman, told The New York Times.
- Close to 1,600 people who live east of the fire were asked to leave their community.
- The New York Times said: “Those ordered to evacuate face the challenges of relocating amid a statewide spike in coronavirus cases.”
Arizona sees spike in COVID-19 cases
- Arizona has joined Florida and Texas as one of three states that have recently set new daily records in coronavirus cases, according to CNN. Arizona reached a new high on Tuesday.
- Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey said Thursday that the state will not add any new restrictions for Arizona’s residents despite the recent rise in COVID-19 cases. Wearing a mask hasn’t been required by the governor, either.