Hello from CNN. I'm Joe Beck with the five things you need to know for Wednesday

June 19th.

Wild fires, a tropical storm threat and a stifling heat wave. It's a week of dangerous and extreme weather across the US.

Authorities in New Mexico say at least one person has died because of a pair of uncontained wildfires that are burning

across Lincoln County and the Mescalao Apache Reservation. Thousands of people

have had to evacuate a village in the area and local officials say roughly 1,400 structures have been lost.

In California, while one major fire is coming under control, another blaze has exploded to more than 15,500 acres in size.

In the Midwest and Northeast, calling centers have been set up in cities to help vulnerable

people escape the record high temperatures.

The National Weather Service says more than 70 million Americans are currently living in extreme heat

conditions, including in Boston, where the mayor is urging everyone to take precautions.

We continue to encourage everyone to stay hydrated, use sunscreen, stay indoors wherever possible.

Please check on your neighbor so that everyone can prevent

dehydration and heat stroke and other health challenges.

And the South is bracing for torrential downpours over parts of the Texas coast, where a tropical storm is expected

to bring strong winds, heavy rain, and possible flash flooding.

How strongly do Western countries want to see Ukraine join NATO?

That's what the US and several of its key allies will be debating at the Alliance's 75th anniversary

summit in Washington next month.

The US is facing criticism from a variety of European countries on the issue for not

being willing to go as far as several would like, especially those close to Russia's border.

Multiple US and European sources familiar with the discussions

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