An uncontained springtime blaze north of Flagstaff, along with smaller fires in New Mexico and Colorado, has been a harsh reminder that fire season might now be year-round.
A new study found that the dangerous pairing of disasters may become more common in the American West as rains trigger runaway surges of mud and debris in areas damaged by wildfire.
The blaze, known as the NCAR fire, at its peak led to the evacuation of 19,000 people near Boulder. Officials said there were no injuries or structures damaged.