By Andrew Hay

LAS VEGAS, N.M. (Reuters ) Hundreds of residents in Las Vegas’ historic New Mexico city were evacuated on Monday after intense winds and drought conditions fueled a wildfire that erupted on the outskirts.

According to officials from the U.S. Forest Service in New Mexico, the Calf Canyon Wildfire had burned more than 103,000 acres (41.682 hectares), more than half of New York City’s area as of Monday morning.

As it burned the drought-parched vegetation northeast of the 13,000 population city, 30% of its contents were left.

This fire is currently the U.S.’s largest wildfire and it has been burning for over a year. Scientists believe that they are spreading earlier in the year because of climate change.

“It’s extremely smokey out there. Jesus Romero (deputy county manager for San Miguel County), spoke with Reuters during an interview. “The wind is picking up, and we are beginning to get more wind,” said Jesus Romero.

Red flag warning issued by forecasters, signaling the possibility of fires starting and spreading easily in an area with winds up to 50 miles per hour, and low humidity levels as low as 5 percent, through Monday.

San Miguel County sent an alert to inform several hundred people that they were being asked to evacuate the northern part of the city.

According to the county, “This developing situation remains very serious” and that refusing evacuation could lead to death.

Romero added that an additional 4,000 to 5,000 people were advised to be prepared to evacuate right away.

Crews burrowed firebreaks north and west from the historical university town in order to protect farms, houses, and the United World College.

On Sunday, strong wind gusts caused a fire to spread near the mountain valley community of Ledoux and Mora. Residents were asked to leave.

The fire, which has been burning since April 6th, has caused the destruction of hundreds of homes and forced evacuation of many settlements within the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. However, no one has been killed.