The aggressive wildfires burning through drought-parched terrain in Colorado and New Mexico are not yet contained, although both state and federal authorities are significantly ramping up efforts today to combat the growing blazes.

Today an estimated 600 firefighters will tackle the High Park, Colo. fire that has swelled to more than 43,000 acres and claimed the life of a 62-year-old woman. Within a day of being reported, the Colo. blaze had already grown 22 square miles and damaged 18 structures. As the fire edges closer to Fort Collins, authorities are calling for additional U.S. aerial firefighting fleets, insisting the situation is “dire.”

Hundreds of residents have been evacuated, and at last report, a spokesman for the U.S. Forest Service said Colorado was using five of 13 air tankers available nationally, while helicopters have been employed to siphon water from a reservoir and then deposit it on nearby homes precariously close to the flames.

Wyoming diverted resources from two fires there to help with a 64-square-mile wildfire in northern Colorado. Additionally, Canada lent two aerial bombers to fight the Colorado blaze following the recent crash of a U.S. tanker in Utah.

While it is evident that more aerial firefighting resources are urgently needed, it can take 36 hours to mobilize the crews and planes, according to officials.

Meanwhile, firefighters in New Mexico obtained ground support to battle a fast-moving wildfire that charred tens of thousands of acres and forced hundreds of residents from their homes in the southern part of the state.

At present, at least 18 large wildfires are burning in nine U.S. states with 4,000 of 15,000 federal firefighters currently deployed, according to the National Interagency Fire Center.

Progress against the largest wildfire in New Mexico history has been slow. The blaze, which has charred 435 square miles of forest since it was sparked by lightning in mid-May, was 37-percent contained on June 11, 2012.

Special Reports /

Massive Wildfires Burn in Colorado and New Mexico

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