COEUR D’ALENE, Idaho (AP) — Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer said one of her biggest fears when she became chief executive of the state two years ago was suffering a devastating wildfire.
Her fear came to life this year as nearly 1 million acres of the state burned in wildfires that included the biggest such blaze in Arizona history.
Brewer — speaking at the Western Governors’ Association’s annual meeting Thursday — said about 1 percent of Arizona’s land has burned this year and the fire season is not over yet.
Governors were told wildfires are becoming bigger and more destructive in western states, thanks to a combination of factors including drought, insect infestations and disease.
