Expand / Collapse search
Watch TV
Menu

This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. ©2024 FOX News Network, LLC. All rights reserved. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Market data provided by Factset. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Legal Statement. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper.

Wildfire

New Mexico fires expected to spread as residents flee

Windy weather has fanned flames

Julia Musto By Julia Musto Fox News
Published
close
Fox News Flash top headlines for May 3 Video

Fox News Flash top headlines for May 3

Fox News Flash top headlines are here. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com.

Massive New Mexico wildfires are forcing additional evacuations. 

While crews got a bit of a break on Monday afternoon, wind gusts of up to 50 mph were predicted to fan the flames on Tuesday, with dangerous conditions lasting through the weekend.

FIRE IN SOUTHWEST FORCES MORE EVACUATIONS

The Calf Canyon and Hermits Peak Fires – which merged last week – have a combined acreage of 145,854 acres, or nearly 228 square miles. 

According to the U.S. Forest Service, the fires were 20% contained, with 1,085 personnel working amidst another red flag warning. 

  • ANew Mexico National Guard Aviation UH-60 Black Hawk drops thousands of gallons of water
    Image 1 of 4

    In this photo provided by the New Mexico National Guard, a New Mexico National Guard Aviation UH-60 Black Hawk flies as part of firefighting efforts, dropping thousands of gallons of water with Bambi buckets from the air on the Calf Canyon/Hermits Peak fire in northern New Mexico on Sunday, May, 1, 2022. (New Mexico National Guard via AP)

  • New Mexico National Guard soldiers on the ground ready buses to transport evacuees
    Image 2 of 4

    In this photo provided by the New Mexico National Guard, New Mexico National Guard soldiers on the ground ready buses to transport evacuees to emergency shelters established by the state at the Glorieta Center in response to the Calf Canyon/Hermits Peak fire in northern New Mexico on Sunday, May 1, 2022.  (New Mexico National Guard via AP)

  • Chris Castillo throws a freshly cut log
    Image 3 of 4

    Chris Castillo throws a freshly cut log as he and his cousins clear a wireline along a family member’s home a family in Las Vegas, NM on Monday, May 2, 2022. (AP Photo/Cedar Attanasio)

  • New Mexico National Guard Aviation soldiers execute water drops
    Image 4 of 4

    New Mexico National Guard Aviation soldiers execute water drops as part of firefighting efforts, dropping thousands of gallons of water from a UH-60 Black Hawks with Bambi buckets on the Calf Canyon/Hermits Peak fire in northern New Mexico Sunday, May, 1, 2022. (New Mexico National Guard via AP)

The state has seven active fires across 223,979 acres and two new large fires were reported in New Mexico on Monday, according to the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC).

Another wildfire burning near Los Alamos National Laboratory prompted people to evacuate over the weekend and other residents were told to prepare for evacuations should the situation deteriorate. 

"We will keep fighting for every possible resource for New Mexico communities affected by ongoing wildfires," New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham said in a Facebook post.

DANGEROUS FIRE WEATHER AROUND US THREATENS EFFORT TO CONTAIN BLAZES

In April, two people were killed by a wildfire in the southern community of Ruidoso that destroyed more than 200 homes.

The NIFC said that 12 uncontained large fires have burned 254,099 acres across five states. 

Fire season off to dangerous start after almost one million acres already burned Video

Nearly 3,500 wildland firefighters and support personnel are assigned to incidents in the Southwest, southern and eastern regions.

More than 1.1 million acres have burned across the country since Jan. 1. 

Wildfires have become a year-round threat in the drought-stricken West. 

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Scientists and fire experts say they are moving faster and burning hotter than ever due to climate change, 

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Julia Musto is a reporter for Fox News and Fox Business Digital.