Drought-related wildfires have destroyed 166 homes in northern New Mexico and are still threatening hundreds as strong winds puff up flames in mountainous areas, local officials said. Thousands of residents are ready to evacuate for fear of Friday’s hurricane. communities in Mora Valley, about 40 miles (64 km) northeast of Santa Fe.
“Tomorrow could be another very destructive day,” incident commander Carl Schwope told a video conference. The fire is huge and very destructive of the twelve wildfires burning in the southwestern U.S. Scientists say the fire has become more widespread and started earlier this year due to climate change.
The piles of metal are all the remains of the burnt houses on the 94-lane road at Morora, where the evacuees fled the blazing fire that no one can remember from these farmers’ areas long ago accustomed to wildfires. Officials have urged residents to be prepared to flee the blaze that has destroyed hundreds of buildings and forced more than 10,000 people to evacuate. “
The 25-year drought has dried up logs and branches up to 8% moisture, under the logs used to build homes, turning mountains and wooded valleys into tiny little boxes. On Friday there will be a test to see if the buildings of the fire have been drilled with tractors and by hand could contain fire that burned 64,395 hectares (26,060 hectares) or 101 square kilometers (260 km²), making it one of the 15 largest in New Mexico history. .
“It’s going to be a big day of fire, a very dangerous day of fire,” said firefighter analyst Stewart Turner, predicting winds of up to 50 mph (80 km per hour).
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