Governor Doug Ducey has issued two emergency declarations in response to the Telegraph and Mescal fires burning in Pinal and Gila counties.
It makes up to $400,000 available for response efforts. Ducey Sunday requested assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which was approved and will cover some state and local costs of the fires.
Firefighters have gained a toehold against the massive Telegraph Fire that’s burned at least 25 structures and forced thousands of people to evacuate rural towns and shut down several highways. It's now more than 76,000 acres and burning south of Superior in Pinal County and near Miami in Gila County.
Fire crews report 18% containment of the blaze. It was first reported Friday about 60 miles east of Phoenix and residents of Globe, Miami and smaller communities have been in various stages of evacuation. Other fires are burning southeast of Globe.
