LOS ANGELES : A huge forest fire in the southwestern US state of Arizona has destroyed around 94,000 hectares (230,000 acres) of forest, and forced some 2,500 people in rural communities to evacuate as firefighters battled the blaze.

There were no reports of casualties from the fire, but the third largest blaze in the state's history was nowhere near containment on Tuesday, with high winds and low humidity fuelling the inferno which is expected to continue for days.Governor Jan Brewer on Monday signed a declaration of emergency in response to the wildfires, with her office saying the action released US$200,000 from the Governor's Emergency Funds to pay for emergency responses and recovery expenses.Over 2,500 firefighting personnel were battling the blaze, backed by 22 helicopters with ...