Two wildfires in remote areas of New Mexico grew significantly in the last 24 hours, and dry, windy conditions across the state aren’t expected to let up anytime soon, according to the latest forecasts.

The Blue 2 Fire about 10 miles northwest of Ruidoso was less than 50 acres Thursday morning but Friday morning has grown to nearly 1,500 acres, or about 2.3 square miles, according to the latest figures from the National Interagency Fire Center.

About 270 miles north, the Indios Fire in the Santa Fe National Forest grew from about 850 acres to about 1,100 acres – about 1.7 square miles – by Friday morning, according to the latest figures.

Both fires are currently burning along or within previous wildfire footprints, which can slow the spread of wildfire or make them easier to pin down. The Blue 2 Fire is in the footprint of the 2012 Little Bear Fire, and the Indios Fire is running along the edge of the 2017 Ojitos Fire burn scar, according to fire officials.

The fires are burning in remote areas, and firefighters said they intend to monitor the Indios Fire but allow it to burn up a predetermined area, to “play its natural role in this fire-dependent ecosystem,” according to NMFireInfo.com.

As the wildfires burn in New Mexico, national forecasters are warning about weather and climate conditions over Memorial Day Weekend that could cause or worsen more of them.

The entire state of New Mexico is under either a Fire Weather Watch or a Red Flag Warning, according to the National Weather Service. Watches mean that fire weather conditions are possible; Red Flag Warnings mean critical fire weather is happening or about to happen. Those warnings are in effect across much of southwestern New Mexico.

In addition, forecasters are warning of “extreme” fire weather potential over the weekend in the Guadalupe Mountains and Lincoln National Forest, where the Blue 2 Fire is burning. Even outside of the “extreme” risk areas in southeast New Mexico, the entire state is in “critical” or “elevated” fire risk.

The National Weather Service forecast says winds will be strongest in the northeast Friday, but that they will grow strong again across the region Saturday. Gusts could reach up to 50 mph over the Memorial Day Weekend.

State officials are calling on the public to refrain from burning brush this weekend or clearing it from near the homes, among other safety and preparedness warnings.

“Stay informed, heed evacuation orders, and create a defensible space around our homes to reduce fire risk,” Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham posted on Instagram Wednesday.

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