In both areas the fire season began prematurely as flames rapidly spread into grassland and woods, which suffered heavy to extreme drought.
A elderly couple were found dead at their home as a raging wildfire raged across New Mexico.
The McBride Fire, which broke out Tuesday afternoon, has grown to 5.381 hectares and was 0 per cent contained by Wednesday night, the New Mexico Fire Information Site said.
Winds of 60-kilometre per hour (138-mph) caused the fires to intensify, and about 150 houses were destroyed.
The loss of two lives in the McBride Fire yesterday is absolutely heartbreaking. I am keeping their loved ones and the entire Ruidoso community in my prayers.
Stay up to date with the latest information on New Mexico wildfires at https://t.co/K83vk35PQJ
— Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham (@GovMLG) April 14, 2022
More than 5.000 residents have had to leave their homes in this popular vacation city of about 8.000 residents, said Kerry Gladden, a spokeswoman for the local government.
Officials said on Wednesday that the fire was under zero percent control, the New Mexico Fire Department reported.
The McBride fire is the most devastating in New Mexico in a decade in terms of property damage.
The Nogal Canyon fire, west of Capitan, was estimated at approximately 350 acres after it broke out Wednesday, and was contained to 4 percent, according to InciWeb.
