Albuquerque, June 23 (RHC)-- In the U.S. state of New Mexico, the governor has declared a state of emergency and called up the National Guard after a pair of fast-growing wildfires destroyed more than 1,400 structures, including an estimated 500 homes. 

Firefighters say at least two people have been killed; thousands more have been forced to evacuate, including the entire New Mexico village of Ruidoso, population 7,000.

Brianna Ventura, of the local fire department, told reporters: “It’s definitely the largest fire that I’ve ever worked, the most damage. Looking at our neighbors, our community, our family, our friends, and looking at everything that they’ve worked for their entire lives just lost in a matter of seconds.  It’s very devastating.”

The National Interagency Fire Center reports 21 large wildfires are currently burning across the western United States.