Arizona wildfire calming down

PRESCOTT, ARIZONA - Firefighters battled the remnants of a 1,300-acre wildfire Friday that had come within three miles of the city&#39;s downtown as nearly 1,500 people who had been evacuated began returning home. <br> <br> Officials said the blaze that burned seven buildings this week was about 85 percent contained and no longer threatening any structures. Officials expected the fire to be fully contained by Saturday night. <br> <br> ``Things are generally looking very good,&#39;&#39; said Stanton Florea, a Forest Service spokesman. ``We have turned the corner.&#34;<br> <br> Ron Beumer lives about three blocks from the burned homes. He returned to find his backyard charred to within a few feet of his house, which was stained by slurry and water dropped from aircraft. <br> <br> ``I can&#39;t believe it came so close and yet we came out unscathed,&#39;&#39; said Beumer, 71. ``We&#39;re going to try to settle down again before cleaning up all this ash. I&#39;ve got to get my emotions straight first.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> The fire was first spotted Wednesday in a forest south of the city, about 90 miles north of Phoenix. The blaze&#39;s cause remained unknown. <br> <br> The fire was one of several burning throughout the drought-stricken state this week. <br> <br> A wildfire north of Payson that had burned about 840 acres was fully contained Friday evening, said a spokeswoman for the Coconino National Forest. <br> <br> A 5,300-acre wildfire that burned mainly grasslands in the Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge was also contained, authorities said.

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