Fires in the United States force thousands to flee their homes

Wildfires in the US state of New Mexico forced thousands to flee their homes as the fires spread in strong winds, as fires raged in areas of the dry southwest of the United States.

More than a dozen small communities have been evacuated due to two fires in the mountains about 48 kilometers northeast of Santa Fe, fueled by winds of more than 97 kilometers per hour, local authorities said.

The fire-tracking website Insioweb said the two blazes, known as "Calve Canyon and Hermits Peak", burned about 19 kilometers northwest of Las Vegas, New Mexico.

The two fires are among more than a dozen fires burning across the southwestern United States, with decades of drought and an abundance of dry vegetation, raising fears the region is facing a harsh fire year.

"There are a lot of fires burning in New Mexico right now, and there are a lot of fires burning in Arizona, which is not normal for this early in the season," said Laura Rapon, a spokeswoman for the Lincoln National Forest in southern New Mexico, where two people died in a fire last week. .

Follow our latest local and sports news and the latest political and economic developments via Google news