Firefighters make 'progress' as Bush declares state of disaster

Firefighters struggling to contain one of the worst wildfires to break out in the American West said yesterday they believed they were finally making progress. At the same time, President George Bush visited the region and declared it a major disaster area that was eligible for federal aid.

In Show Low, the Arizona mountain town half a mile from the edge of the 333,000-acre blaze, firefighters said efforts to cut fire breaks to slow the progress of the flames were showing some success. Air tankers continued to fly overhead, dumping fire retardant materials on the burning pine trees of the Apache- Sitgreaves National Forest.

"We are making excellent progress," said Jim Paxon, a fire service spokesman. "It's a little less aggressive, more mundane burning conditions." But Mr Paxon warned that the fire could easily surge back in the direction of the town, from which 8,000 residents have been evacuated. "This is just such a huge fire," he said. "We are still not showing any containment."

After Mr Bush declared the area eligible for aid, the Emergency Management Agency said $20m (£13m) would be made immediately available to the state to help to defray costs of the operation.

"This is an emergency," said Mr Bush, who travelled north of Phoenix to meet firefighters and some of the 30,000 people across the region who have been forced to leave their homes. "I understand there are a lot of small businessmen who are worried about their businesses. I don't blame them – I would be worried."

The problem of wildfires is not confined to Arizona. With much of the American West gripped by drought, 20 big fires were burning in nine states yesterday with more than 2.5 million acres of land burnt already – more than double the annual average.

The Arizona blaze, which now covers an area bigger than the city of Los Angeles, remains the top priority for firefighters. Believed to have been started by humans a week ago, the fire has destroyed 329 houses and 16 business premises. About 2,200 people are involved in fighting it.