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Grand Canyon wildfire 60 percent-contained
01 May 2008 01:57:10 GMT
Source: Reuters
(Updates with fire being largely contained)

PHOENIX, April 30 (Reuters) - A wildfire burning out of control toward the Grand Canyon was largely contained late on Wednesday, forest service officials said.

Fire crews with trucks, bulldozers and aircraft achieved "60 percent containment" of the so-called X Fire that blazed a trail through the Kaibab National Forest in northern Arizona toward the Grand Canyon, the forest service said.

The blaze, which broke out on Tuesday, had burned 2,030 acres (820 hectares) of pine forest, grassland and sage brush, fanned by strong winds and dry conditions.

Firefighters contained the fire more than a mile (1.6 km) south of the Grand Canyon National Park boundary and were preparing to begin "mopping up" on Thursday, the forest service said in a news release.

The park remained open throughout the day, although a campground was shut indefinitely, and several forest roads and a trail were closed temporarily.

The Grand Canyon is one of the biggest tourist draws in the United States, and attracts 5 million visitors a year. (Reporting by Tim Gaynor and David Schwartz; Editing by Peter Cooney)


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Last updated:Thu May 1 01:54:48 2008