Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., came under verbal fire today for partly blaming the fire on illegal immigrants. "There is substantial evidence that some of these fires have been caused by people who have crossed our border illegally," McCain said Saturday at a news conference. "The answer to that part of the problem is to get a secure border." “During our tour of the damaged areas caused by the Wallow Fire on Saturday, we were briefed by senior Forest Service officials, one of whom informed us that some wildfires in Arizona (across our southern border) are regrettably caused by drug smugglers and illegal immigrants,” said McCain.
– Six states are ablaze in a searing summer that's breaking records for wildfires. More than 1.2 million acres have already burned and some 10,000 people have been forced to flee their homes as flames devour land in Arizona, New Mexico, California, and Colorado, as well as Georgia and Texas. Some 3,500 firefighters have battled Arizona's Wallow fire that has consumed some 500,000 acres, and 700 smoke-eaters are wrestling the Monument fire near Sierra Vista in the state. "I feared for my husband, my animals and for the air quality," one fleeing Arizonan told ABC News. Also hardest hit is Texas, suffering its worst drought in history, where some 15,000 acres have burned in temperatures topping 100 degrees. Helicopters are currently dumping water on a California blaze raging in an oil field in San Luis Obispo County. Soaring temperatures and super dry conditions will continue to make this summer one of the most dangerous. One issue not a risk factor for fires? Illegal immigrants. Arizona Sen. John McCain came under heat for blaming Mexican drug cartels and illegal immigrants for starting blazes, but now says he was misinformed by National Forest Service officials.