Forestry Official Defends Handling of Wildfire

The U.S. Forest Service responded slowly to build fire breaks and save homes from a wildfire that later grew into the largest in Arizona history, local officials told members of Congress. But a Forest Service official defended the agency’s handling of the blaze, saying that given its size and intensity, there was often nothing to be done but get out of the way.

The wildfire near Show Low destroyed 467 homes and burned 732 square miles before it was stopped in July.