Wildfires burn across US west as lightning sets off blaze near Arizona city

Firefighters in Arizona, California, Oregon, Utah and New Mexico are battling blazes amid dry, hot conditions

Dozens of wildfires were burning in hot, dry conditions across the US west, including a blaze touched off by lightning that was moving toward northern Arizona's largest city.

The mountainous city of Flagstaff was shrouded in smoke on Monday and ash was falling from the sky as a blaze was encroaching on the city. The national forest surrounding Flagstaff announced a full closure set to begin later this week - the first time that has happened since 2006.