Flames from a wildfire leap over retreating firefighters on Pine Canyon Road, July 12, 2004, near Gorman, Calif.
California
Department of Forestry firefighters Adam Kernaghan, left, and Cody Chau look up at tankers dropping fire-retardant material on a 100-acre fire near Shaver Lake, Calif., July 12, 2004. Dozens of homes were threatened by the blaze.
California
A helicopter drops water on a section of the wildfire above the small community of Snow Creek, July 12, 2004, in the mountains just northwest of Palm Springs, Calif. The fire at the edge of the San Bernardino National Forest scorched nearly 1,500 acres, but had destroyed no homes and it was 40 percent contained.
California
A Los Angeles County firefighter sprays water on a large brush burning in Pomona, Calif., July 11, 2004. At least 50 firefighters, supported by helicopter crews, attacked the fire that was in steep, rocky terrain near the 57 Freeway.
Colorado
Matt Kilgriss uses a chainsaw to cut down a burning stump while crews work to contain the Devil Mountain Fire, west of Pagosa Springs, Colo., July 12, 2004. The fire near Chimney Rock Archaeological Area had burned 60 acres but no structures were threatened.
Florida
Smoke can be seen in the distance off the Julia Tuttle Causeway in Miami Beach, Fla., July 11, 2004. The smoke, which was about 15 miles away, was a product of wildfires in western Miami-Dade County. Poor visibility caused the Florida Highway Patrol to close down about 10 miles of Florida's Turnpike that day.
Arizona
Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano addresses residents affected by the Nuttall Complex fire atop Mount Graham, July 9, 2004, in Safford, Ariz.
Arizona
In a defensive effort against the Nuttall Complex fire, Ahren Zachary moves branches around homes atop Mount Graham Friday, near Safford, Ariz., July 9, 2004.
Arizona
A cloud forms over the Willow Fire, seen from about 50 miles east at Cordes Junction, Ariz., July 3, 2004. At the time the lightning-caused blaze was 10 percent contained and much of the containment was on the northeastern portion of the fire, the edge closest to the city of Payson, Ariz.
Arizona
In this image from video, smoke and flames from the Gibson fire draw near to the Large Binocular Telescope (LBT) atop Mount Graham in Saffard, Ariz., July 3, 2004.
Arizona
Operations Section Chief Duane Archuleta of Santa Fe, N.M., describes to his team the plans for fighting a fire on Mount Graham, July 4, 2004, in Safford, Ariz.
Arizona
Graham County Arizona Deputy Sheriff Abner Upshaw directs traffic past a roadblock to a fire on Mount Graham, near Safford, Ariz., July 5, 2004. Two wildfires burning on Mount Graham moved closer to cabins and continued to threaten an observatory that houses a $120 million telescope, one of the world's most powerful optical instruments.
Arizona
A P3 Orion drops retardent on the Nuttall Complex fire on Mount Graham near Safford, Ariz., July 5, 2004.
Arizona
Cabin owners return from their residences, where they were allowed to collect possessions, as fires burn on Mount Graham near Safford, Ariz., July 5, 2004. Two wildfires burning on Mount Graham moved closer to cabins and continued to threaten an observatory that houses a $120 million telescope.
Arizona
Wildfires on Mount Graham near Safford, Ariz., burn near the Large Binocular Telescope, left, July 5, 2004.
Washington
A helicopter picks up a bucket full of water out of the Columbia River while fighting the Beebee fire, about two miles north of the Beebe Bridge near Chelan Falls, Wash. July 6, 2004.
Alaska
Fire crews look for hot spots around a burned out structure off of the Steese Highway, July 5, 2004, as fire crews put out hot spots and work on structure protection on the Boundary wildfire north of Fairbanks, Alaska. The wildfire had already burned 307,000 acres and caused the evacuation of subdivisions.
Alaska
A moose cow and her calf walk through the smokey brush near Chena Hot Springs, about 60 miles from Fairbanks, Alaska, July 3, 2004, as a fire burns a few miles away in Wolf Creek. Five recreational cabins were been reported burned in the Wolf Creek fire, said Dave Whitmer, operations chief.
Alaska
A firefighter walks by Mike Hale, right, as he talks about how he and his friends saved his cabin from a fire, July 3, 2004, at Wolf Creek near Chena Hot Springs, about 60 miles from Fairbanks, Alaska. The Wolf Creek fire charred 174,000 acres in a popular recreation area. Several people living in the area had voluntarily left their homes.
Alaska
Gregory Rivers Jr., right, swings his axe to break up a smoldering log while Riley Simon, wearing a plastic bag as a raincoat, sprays water on hot spots as the Hooper Bay, Alaska, fire team works on the Wolf Creek fire, July 5, 2004, in Chena Hot Springs.