Strong winds batter New Mexico, complicating wildfire fight

On Sunday, more than 1,600 firefighters battled the two major blazes burning north-east of Santa Fe, New Mexico

A sunset seen through a wall of wildfire smoke from the Amtrak train station in Las Vegas, New Mexico (AP)

Dangerous winds are expected across north-east New Mexico, complicating the fight against wildfires that threaten thousands of homes in mountainous rural communities.

The region’s largest city – Las Vegas, home to 13,000 people – is largely safe from danger after firefighters mostly stopped a blaze there from moving east.