Rain helps firefighters slow New Mexico blazes as Biden approves disaster relief

Flash flooding has helped the situation Picture: Mike Bischoff @blueskyproductionsutah via AP

More than 1,000 firefighters in the US state of New Mexico took advantage of a break in the weather to gain the upper hand – for now – on a pair of wildfires that have killed two people, destroyed hundreds of homes and forced thousands to flee.

President Joe Biden issued a disaster declaration for parts of southern New Mexico, freeing up funding and more resources as crews worked to keep the flames from spreading.