Wildfires in the US - in pictures

A fire blazes in Arizona's Tonto national forest, near Payson. The fire has grown to more than three-square miles as air tankers and helicopters assist ground crews in beating back flames. Tonto national forest spokesman David Albo says the fire about 20 miles south of Payson was moving in a northeasterly direction and primarily toward a wilderness area Photograph: Marc Allan/Associated Press

A home is engulfed by flames from a wildfire, south of Gardnerville, Nevada Photograph: Cathleen Allison/AP

Firefighters battle a wildfire south of Gardnerville, Nevada. The fast-moving blaze near the Nevada-California line destroyed at least two homes as it forced evacuations and sent up huge plumes of black smoke, witnesses said Photograph: Cathleen Allison/AP

The Gladiator Fire burns in the Bradshaw Mountains in Prescott national forest, Arizona. Authorities are worried that flames from the Gladiator Fire will get past a fire line that's about a mile west of the historic mining town of Crown King Photograph: David Wallace/AP

A helicopter returning from the Sunflower wildfire passes in front of the solar eclipse over Payson, Arizona Photograph: Reuters

An air tanker drops retardent on a fire near Crown King, Arizona. Fire crews spent days fighting several wildfires including the four and a half square mile blaze near Crown King Photograph: Matt York/AP

Fire burns through trees on the Hewlett wildfire in the Poudre Canyon northwest of Fort Collins, Colorado. More than 50 homes were evacuated and the fire has grown from 1.5 square miles to 8 square miles in the last day as erratic wind gusts of up to 50 mph moved into the area fueled by thunderstorms that didn't produce rain Photograph: Ed Andrieski/AP

The Hewlett Gulch Fire continues to burn in the Poudre canyon near Fort Collins, Colorado Photograph: RJ Sangosti/AP

Firefighters battle a wildfire south of Gardnerville, Nevada Photograph: Cathleen Allison/AP