In the US, a wildfire burning through a dense Arizona forest has forced thousands of people from their homes, closed a major road and created a huge plume of smoke.<br/><br/>The fire is burning in communities around Prescott, a mountain city about 160.9 kilometres north of Phoenix that draws a mix of desert dwellers escaping the heat, retirees and visitors to its famed Old West-themed Whiskey Row. More than 500 firefighters are battling the blaze.<br/><br/>The fire forced the evacuation of Mayer and Dewey-Humboldt along with several other communities, and one of the main roads into Prescott was closed.