A wildfire that has charred more than 350 square miles (906 sq km) in eastern Arizona forced the evacuation of a third town on Monday.

The wildfire crept near populated areas along the New Mexico border as it raged out of control for a ninth day, Reuters reported.

The so-called Wallow Fire, burning about 250 miles (400 km) northeast of Phoenix and stretching to near the Arizona-New Mexico border, ranks as the third-largest fire on record in Arizona.

Firefighters battling the raging wildfire in eastern Arizona made slight progress in preventing the spread of a blaze that has charred over 200,000 acres of prime forest, officials said.

The fire started in Arizona last week and is now threating Western New Mexico. More than 1,300 firefighters from across the nation are trying to contain the fire to protect several small mountain communities and stop the stubborn wildfire, burning about 250 miles northeast of Phoenix.

Below are some of the latest pictures of the Arizona forest fire:

Arizona forest fire expands to 350 square miles
A view of the Wallow Wildfire is pictured in the distance seen along the U.S. Route 180 as smoke fills the sky in Luna, New Mexico June 6, 2011. REUTERS/Joshua Lott
Arizona forest fire expands to 350 square miles
A vehicle drives along the U.S. Route 180 as smoke from the Wallow Wildfire fills the sky in Luna, New Mexico June 6, 2011. REUTERS/Joshua Lott
Arizona forest fire expands to 350 square miles
Firefighters travel along a closed section of U.S. Route 180 leading to the Wallow Wildfire as smoke fills the sky in Luna, New Mexico June 6, 2011. REUTERS/Joshua Lott
Arizona forest fire expands to 350 square miles
Firefighters, leaning against an ambulance, wait to receive orders as they take a break from the Wallow Wildfire with smoke filling up the sky in Luna, New Mexico June 6, 2011. REUTERS/Joshua Lott
Arizona forest fire expands to 350 square miles
Robert Joseph rides his all terrain vehicles along U.S. Route 180 as smoke from the Wallow Wildfire fills the sky in Luna, New Mexico June 6, 2011. REUTERS/Joshua Lott
Arizona forest fire expands to 350 square miles
House are seen along the U.S. Route 180 as smoke from the Wallow Wildfire fills the sky in Luna, New Mexico June 6, 2011. REUTERS/Joshua Lott
Arizona forest fire expands to 350 square miles
Jerry Kinny sits in his vehicle as he watches smoke from the Wallow Wildfire fill the sky along U.S. Route 180 as in Luna, New Mexico June 6, 2011. REUTERS/Joshua Lott
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