Wildfires rage through Southern California, Arizona and New Mexico after record-breaking heatwave
Hundreds have been evacuated from their homes
At least four people are dead in south-west America after temperatures reached a scorching 49°C causing major wildfires across Southern California, Arizona and New Mexico.
Humidity across the region is low allowing fire to spread rapidly.
Mandatory evacuations are underway in Potero in California after the fire spread almost 2,000 acres just north of the U.S.-Mexico border.
Some 700 residents of the region have had to flee after wildfire burned through the area on Sunday afternoon.
Horses and other animals are also being evacuated in the nearby ranching communities.
Dry brush and sweltering temperatures are fuelling this fire.
California Fire Captain Kendal Bortisser said "The wind, the terrain, the fuel, the heat, the low relative humidity - they are all making it a tough battle out there."
Three temporary evacuation centres have been set up in local schools for people evacuated from their homes.
The Bert fire in Arizona is still raging after starting during a lightening strike on 28 May.
Since its outbreak the wildfire has already burnt more than 4,000 acres.
Firefighters are battling to put it out with it being only 1% contained.
It is only 10miles away from the town of Valle.
Meanwhile in New Mexico The Dog Head fire has been raging for seven days.
The fire, which is raging just south of Albuquerque, has burnt close to 18,000 acres and firefighters have almost 10% contained.
Hundreds of residents have been evacuated with many more getting prepared to leave in case the wind, and fire, changes direction.
24 homes have already been lost.
More than a thousand firefighters are helping fight the Dog Head Fire, including specialised team The Dalton Hotshots.
Four people have also died while hiking in Arizona because of the heat, .
The first, a 25-year-old man, died while hiking the Peralta Trail. A woman in her early 20s died after she succumbed to dehydration after she forgot to bring water with her.
Pima County sheriff's office also reported that another man died and another remained unaccounted for Sunday night after their hiking group was overcome near Tucson. The man who died was believed to be from Germany.
Further north in Santa Barbara fire-crews have been battling the Sherpa Fire which has been raging for five days.
More than 2,000 firefighters have been working to put out the fire which is now at 45% containment.
Concerning for firefighters is a 'Red Flag Warning' running from Sunday afternoon through to Tuesday morning.
Red Flag conditions bring higher winds, extremely hot temperatures and lower humidity, which makes firefighting more difficult.
Authorities have declared a state of emergency and are intermittently shutting highways. The fire is the tourist region's largest since 2009, a Santa Barbara spokeswoman said.
A smaller brush fire has been contained in the densely populated Silver Lake area.
Los Angeles firefighters along with locals tackled the flames and hosed down backyards to douse flames and prevent them from flaring up again.
Excessive heat warnings have blanketed Southern California and Arizona, and hot temperatures are set to remain until late Monday, according to the National Weather Service.
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