June 19th, 2011
03:01 PM ET

7 states face extreme fire risk Sunday

Firefighters across the southwestern United States on Sunday could face some of the worst weather conditions of the season for battling blazes currently raging across the region.

The National Weather Service has issued a red flag warning for most of Arizona, all of New Mexico, much of north Texas and portions of Oklahoma, Colorado, Kansas and Utah for Sunday. A red flag warning means weather conditions - mainly high heat, low humidity and strong winds - pose an extreme fire risk.

"The winds certainly will be very gusty and strong," said Ken Daniel, NWS meteorologist in Flagstaff, Arizona. "Any new fire starts would have the potential to have explosive growth."

Dozens of wildfires already are burning in Arizona, New Mexico and Texas, according to InciWeb, an online interagency database that tracks fires, floods and other disasters.

Sunday's forecast calls for winds of 30 mph or more in some areas, with gusts of up to 50 mph, Daniel said.

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Filed under: Arizona • Colorado • Kansas • New Mexico • Oklahoma • Texas • Utah
soundoff (11 Responses)
  1. RUFFNUTT

    i heard that they found a suspect.. a "mrs.EAST" from kansas... she has been known to pratice witchcraft..

    apperently she was being accompanied by a MR.scarecrow and got into a arguement and set MR.SCARECROW on fire..

    later she fleed the seen but mr.scarecrow spread fire to the surrounding area when he tried to stop,drop,and roll...

    June 19, 2011 at 3:42 pm | Report abuse |
  2. banasy

    Ah, Ruffie, it's always fun when you're around!

    You're KCMO, aren't you?

    To all of my friends in these states:
    Be careful!
    I don't want to lose you!

    June 19, 2011 at 4:00 pm | Report abuse |
    • RUFFNUTT

      i've been drinking suntan lotion and shaved my head... i fear no fire now!!!

      June 20, 2011 at 8:26 am | Report abuse |
    • Scalp Screen

      ruff, check this stuff out...

      Check out our new site at http://www.scalpscreen.net

      August 23, 2011 at 6:15 pm | Report abuse |
  3. Philip in Colorado

    We are as dry as a bone here and have a couple of fires burning. Not like AZ's though. Nice to hear from a tornado state banasy. And I look forward to hearing from you hurricane states soon. You EQ states keep quiet.

    June 19, 2011 at 4:53 pm | Report abuse |
  4. fernace

    Texas is burning to smithereens! We've had a burn ban since march, & there will be no 4th of July fireworks this year! It's a 105 in the shade & I'm almost looking forward to a hurricane, or at least a very rainy tropical storm. Now would be a perfect time for Al Gore to start talking Global warming, again!!

    June 20, 2011 at 2:12 am | Report abuse |
  5. Zelda

    More Americans should go to church on Sunday. Regularly.

    June 20, 2011 at 3:15 am | Report abuse |
  6. Zelda

    Americans are becoming meaningless and less self-disciplined by not going to church on Sunday morning, on top of losing every other good and vital thing. What do they do by not going to church Sunday morning? Nothing. Just more fattening.

    June 20, 2011 at 3:20 am | Report abuse |
    • Elvis

      Going to church doesn't make you a christain anymore than standing in a garage makes you a car. American's need a president, a real one.

      June 20, 2011 at 10:51 am | Report abuse |
  7. Cesar The Chorizo Champ Of Chihuahua

    There's Ellis! I think he'd be a good fireman. We need ya, Ellis!

    June 20, 2011 at 3:39 am | Report abuse |
  8. fernace

    @Zelda, how do you know people weren't in church yesterday? Did you take a poll? I'm pretty sure many people were in church celebrating all the wonderful daddies in their congregation, while also celebrating our Father in Heaven! Parishioners in 7 states were praying for rain & to keep our firefighters safe! You should pray about that negative spirit you're spreading around. God is love!!

    June 20, 2011 at 1:17 pm | Report abuse |