Video: Wildfire burns through New Mexico

>>> let's turn to the massive wildfire burning out of control in the south west . the whitewater baldy fire began as two small fires about two and a half weeks ago. it's now grown into the largest wildfires in new mexico 's history.

>> reporter: today by helicopter, firefighters launch an aerial assault on a stubborn blaze difficult to reach. the nation's largest wildfire is steam rolling through the gila national forest . more than 240,000 acres charred so far. a massive swath of land. a fire that won't be out for weeks, or even months.

>> the steepness of the terrain. we have steep terrain, where the canyons are 500 to 600 feet with vertical dropoffs. just trying to deal with ter rain like that makes it extremely difficult to suppress.

>> reporter: the whitewater baldy fire has cost $13 million to fight. this weekend, crews in the historic mining town more than 150 years old was surrounded by three walls of fire. crews beat back the flames. this week evacuation orders will be lifted. but the edge of this blaze is barreling through low-lying hills. bob and burt can see flames sweeping just above their home.

>> they're a monster. if you look, see them right there? it's a monster. so, yeah. it's scary.

>> reporter: sparked by lightning, the fire has burned for two and a half weeks. plumes of billowing smoke from new mexico can be seen for hundreds of miles. toxic air, fanned by wind gusts, topping 30 miles an hour. floating embers could ignite a new fire across a region stricken by drought.

>> the winds are going to become a much bigger issue in portions of utah and western new mexico , where the whitewater baldy fire is.

>> reporter: the conditions are ripe for a long, hot, dangerous fire season, one that's off to an early and in new mexico record start. crews have made progress on the front lines. this blaze is now 17% contained. but the fire is still ripping through forest area . they say the big worry over the next couple of days is going to be the hot temperatures and gusty winds. lester?

>> miguel, thank you.

les miles les miles beyonce dance for you video beyonce dance for you video asu football