Estimated $580M spent on largest wildfires in 2012

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Wildfire burning 5 miles east of Tusayan
Wildfire burning 5 miles east of Tusayan

Authorities say there's a new wildfire burning in northern Arizona and smoke is visible from Grand Canyon National Park and surrounding areas.
Authorities say there's a new wildfire burning in northern Arizona and smoke is visible from Grand Canyon National Park and surrounding areas.
Wildfire near Prescott continues to grow
Wildfire near Prescott continues to grow

A nearly 8-square-mile wildfire in Arizona's Prescott National Forest is continuing to grow as more than 670 firefighters battle the blaze.
A nearly 8-square-mile wildfire in Arizona's Prescott National Forest is continuing to grow as more than 670 firefighters battle the blaze.
As fires rage, feds cut funding on prevention
As fires rage, feds cut funding on prevention
The federal government is spending less and less on preventing wildfires even as the nation endures increasingly destructive blazes.
As the West battles one catastrophic wildfire after another, the federal government is spending less and less on its main program for preventing blazes in the first place.
7K acre Doce fire forces hundreds from their homes
7K acre Doce fire forces hundreds from their homes

The first big Arizona wildfire of 2013 has burned 7,000 acres northwest of Prescott, and is moving east towards subdivisions outside Prescott.
The first big Arizona wildfire of 2013 has burned 7,000 acres northwest of Prescott, and is moving east towards subdivisions outside Prescott.
DC-10 drops 11,000 gallons of retardant on Doce fire
DC-10 drops 11,000 gallons of retardant on Doce fire
Crews at the Doce fire are not only getting help from fire crews, they're getting support from the air. We got a closer look at some of those aircraft.
Crews at the Doce fire are not only getting help from fire crews, they're getting support from the air. We got a closer look at some of those aircraft.
Fire restrictions imposed for S. Utah, N. Arizona
Fire restrictions imposed for S. Utah, N. Arizona
Officials are imposing campfire restrictions on parts of Utah and Arizona that are under a red-flag wildfire warning.
Officials are imposing campfire restrictions on parts of Utah and Arizona that are under a red-flag wildfire warning.
Investigators 'zeroing in' on Colo. wildfire start
Investigators 'zeroing in' on Colo. wildfire start
Firefighters are getting a better handle on the most destructive wildfire ever in Colorado, but they're still struggling against hot spots that could threaten homes that have been spared by the massive blaze.
Rain helped firefighters douse Colorado's most destructive wildfire in state history, while a new wind-whipped blaze in California forced evacuations and threatened homes Monday near Yosemite National Park.
Wildfire Season: Campfire restrictions
Wildfire Season: Campfire restrictions
New fire restrictions go into place for most of Arizona on Wednesday. FOX 10's Jill Monier has the details on what you need to know.
New fire restrictions go into place for most of Arizona on Wednesday. FOX 10's Jill Monier has the details on what you need to know.
Firefighters advance containment on Colo. wildfire
Firefighters advance containment on Colo. wildfire
Firefighters advanced against a monstrous wildfire outside of Colorado Springs, expanding containment lines and lifting evacuation orders for thousands of anxious residents in the most destructive blaze in state...
Crews gained the upper hand on the most destructive wildfire in Colorado history Saturday and had more than half the blaze contained as officials prepared to lift mandatory evacuation orders for hundreds of residents.
Crews continues to fight NM wildfires, storms eyed
Crews continues to fight NM wildfires, storms eyed
Crews continue to battle around 93 square miles of tinder-dry forests in New Mexico as officials hope thunderstorms expected over the weekend will bring relief.
Crews continue to battle around 93 square miles of tinder-dry forests in New Mexico as officials hope thunderstorms expected over the weekend will bring relief.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) - Federal statistics show that efforts to douse the largest of the nation's wildfires last year cost more than $580 million, and some fires burned for more than three months.

A summary by the National Interagency Fire Center also shows that more than 80% of the 51 largest fires were sparked by lightning.

That includes the Long Draw and Holloway fires, which together burned more than 1 million acres and were among the largest in Oregon's history.

It was also a record year in New Mexico, where an estimated $42.4 million was spent fighting the state's largest and most destructive fires. Both were sparked by lightning.

The report shows hundreds of millions of dollars were also spent fighting the largest fires in California and Idaho.

Estimated $580M spent on largest wildfires in 2012

Estimated $580M spent on largest wildfires in 2012

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