The fire authorities in the state were bracing for more high winds, more smoke and more evacuees.

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By Julia Goldberg

SANTA FE, N.M. — Officials in northern New Mexico were bracing for more critical fire weather conditions on Sunday, as crews in the state battled a massive wildfire that grew significantly on Saturday amid high winds.

The Hermits Peak/Calf Canyon fire east of Santa Fe, which began as two fires before merging a week ago, had burned some 97,000 acres, or about 150 square miles, by Saturday, up from about 75,000 acres the day before. It was 30 percent contained, fire officials said, with smoke from that fire and another — the Cerro Pelado fire in Jemez Springs, roughly 40 miles west of Santa Fe — permeating much of the northern part of the state.

More than 1,000 firefighters have worked to contain the Hermits Peak/Calf Canyon blaze. The spread of the fire from Friday into Saturday exceeded predictions, officials said in public briefings. Wind speeds exceeded 65 miles per hour at times, according to Mike Johnson, a fire information officer.

No deaths or injuries have been reported from the fire. The state police reported the deaths of two people in April from another wildfire.

Carl Schwope, the commander of a team for the region that combines firefighting resources from federal, state, local and other agencies, said that the Hermits Peak/Calf Canyon fire “could easily double in size” before being contained.

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