New Mexico wildfire: Huge blaze could worsen this weekend

The second biggest fire in US history has been seen in New Mexico and it could be caused by weather conditions.

The so-called Hermits Peak Fire has been burning for more than a month and has torn through an area larger than the city of Chicago.

Thousands of families have been left homeless.

The fire is being fanned by winds, near-record high temperatures and dry conditions.

The National Weather Service in Albuquerque uses "exceedingly rare language" in its warning for a long duration and extreme fire weather event.

The governor called on the people in the areas to leave.

We will enter an extremely dangerous period of fire weather tonight. Air support may be limited as severe winds pick up.

US President Joe Biden declared a major disaster in New Mexico this week, which unlocked federal resources.

Image source, Reuters

In Las Vegas, a New Mexico city of 13,000 people, restaurants and grocery stores have been closed, while schools have either closed or moved to remote-only options.

It is like living under a dark cloud. Liz Birmingham, a resident of the city, told CBS News that it was unnerving.

Elmo Baca, chairman of the Las Vegas Community Foundation, said that there was uncertainty about how the winds would affect the fire.

Once the people are out of the area, they can't go back.

Image source, Reuters

The fire has blackened more than 691 sq km.

It is thought to have started on 6 April and was traced to a preventive fire initiated by the US Forest Service. The fire merged with another fire.

Large wildfires have increased in recent decades.

In the west of the US, fires larger than 10,000 acres are seven times more common than they were in the 1970s.