US offers aid to quell bush fires

MEXICO CITY (AP):

The Mexican government says the United States has offered to send two C-130 transport planes to help fight brush fires near the Texas border.

The Mexican Environment Department says the fires have burned about a quarter of a million acres (100,000 hectares) in the northern state of Coahuila. The fires are about 60 miles (100 kilometres) from the border, but are not spreading toward Texas.

The department said yesterday the US Embassy has offered two C-130s that can be fitted with tanks to spray fire retardants.

Mexico already has about 1,000 personnel, nine helicopters and two small planes fighting the blazes.