By KRWG News
New Mexico – Firefighters and weather forecasters are pointing to the fresh scar of a nearly 65,000-acre grass fire in southeastern New Mexico as a sign of what's to come in parts of the Southwest.
They say much of the region already has the ingredients needed for the makings of a grueling fire season dry and crunchy vegetation, above-normal temperatures, howling winds and little chance for any significant rainfall in the foreseeable future.
Wind-driven wildfires have already scorched more than 190 square miles of prairie and destroyed scores of homes in West Texas.
In New Mexico, more than 125 square miles have burned along with barns, storage sheds and other structures.
Officials say conditions are expected to worsen across southeastern Arizona and in New Mexico up through the middle Rio Grande Valley.
Copyright 2011 The Associated Press.