By Andrew Hay

TAOS N.M. (Reuters] – The northern New Mexico drought-driven wildfire exploded onto a “megafire” covering 100,000 acres. This fire could potentially grow more than two-fold, according to a official.

Calf Canyon is currently the most extensive and destructive fire in America, fueled by fierce spring winds from parched mountains forests.

The fire is located approximately 30 miles (48km) east Santa Fe. It has caused hundreds of property losses, led to thousands of evacuations, and was able to burn within the limits of Las Vegas.

It covers already over 100,000 acres. “It could easily double its size, possibly even larger than that,” said Incident Commander Carl Schwope during a briefing.

After Friday’s massive collapse of the column of flame on Friday night and raining embers, the fire spread by about half a percent. Las Vegas residents woke up to find pieces of charred wood as large as a quarter of an American dollar covering the streets.

Officials were concerned about a “column collapsing” anytime soon.

Joy Ansley from San Miguel County said via phone that “it’s a large fire and it surrounds us”, adding that authorities had made plans for Las Vegas in the event they were asked to evacuate.

The U.S. West will face a terrible fire season, according to firefighters. Data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture shows that nearly 80% of this area is under severe drought.

According to the current scenario, two degrees Celsius global warming will cause wildfires in U.S. West by midcentury.

More than a third (or 2,800) of all the firefighters currently deployed in the United States were involved in fighting the Calf Canyon fire. They bulldoze firebreaks in Las Vegas to protect the city and battle ember-sparked spot fires that are creeping toward villages in the Mora valley.

According to the National Interagency Fire Center, wildfires in America have blazed more area this year than they did last 2021. They also burned about 70% more land than their 10-year average.