US President Biden declares disaster in New Mexico wildfire zone

In the United States, firefighters slowed the advance of the largest wildfire as heavy winds relented, while President Joe Biden approved a disaster declaration that brings new financial resources to remote stretches of New Mexico devastated by fire since early April.  A National Weather Service Meteorologist in Albuquerque, Todd Shoemake said that strong winds with gusts up to 45 miles per hour are expected to return Saturday afternoon along with above-normal temperatures and abysmally low humidity that make for extreme fire danger.
He further said, Sunday and Monday are probably looking to be even worse. Nearly 1,300 firefighters and other personnel were assigned to the fire. Mandatory evacuation orders have been issued for an estimated 15,500 homes in outlying areas and in the valleys of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains that border Las Vegas. The tally of homes destroyed by the fire stands around 170, but could grow higher because officials have not been able to conduct assessments in all of the burn zones. Aircraft dropped more fire retardant as a second line of defense along a ridge just west of town in preparation for intense winds expected over the weekend. Local law enforcement officials acknowledged the physical and emotion toll of prolonged evacuations. Las Vegas Police Chief Antonio Salazar said his officers would provide "burglary patrols" of evacuated areas and help maintain order at a local Walmart as people line up to purchase supplies.

Wildfires have become a year-round threat in the drought-stricken West — moving faster and burning hotter than ever due to climate change, scientists and fire experts say. Fire officials also point to overgrown areas where vegetation can worsen wildfire conditions. As per information, nationally a dozen uncontained large fires have burned about 436 square miles (1,129 square kilometers) in five states.