Worsening wildfire conditions predicted in New Mexico as blazes grow

The state has had more fire damage in the first four months of 2022 than in all of last year

Updated May 1, 2022 at 9:10 p.m. EDT|Published April 30, 2022 at 4:51 p.m. EDT

Smoke from the Calf Canyon fire is seen from Mora, N.M., on Friday.

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Forecasters in New Mexico are warning of worsening fire conditions for the next several days, with gusts expected to pick up as firefighters attempt to contain wildfires that have been burning unusually hot and fast for weeks.

Much of the state is under either extreme or exceptional drought conditions, the two worst levels, which have turned parts of the state into a tinderbox. The National Weather Service in Albuquerque issued a red flag warning across much of the eastern part of the state for Sunday, after high winds Friday fueled large fires in the region.