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

June 19th. Deadly wildfires are destroying homes in New Mexico and California.

Local officials say one person has been killed

as the South Fork Fire has burned roughly 1,400 structures

and forced about 8,000 people to leave their homes near a dozo, New Mexico,

including these locals who spoke to see in an affiliate K-O-A-T as the flames and smoke

turned skies orange.

This is the craziest fire I've ever seen in my own eyes. flames and smoke turned skies orange.

This is the craziest fire I've ever seen in my own eyes.

Yeah, yeah.

I mean, we get fires out there quite a bit, but this one's

crazy.

16,000 acre fires.

The state's forestry update said the wildfire is completely out of control and so is a second one nearby.

Together they measure more than 20,000 acres in size but firefighters are hoping that some much-needed rain showers will help them battle the flames over the next few days.

In Southern California, the post fire is now more than 30% contained, but further north another blaze has exploded to more

than 15,500 acres. Cal fire says conditions should start to improve there as well though, with high winds

calming down and humidity increasing. And while part of the US is dealing with

burning flames, millions of Americans are dealing with soaring temperatures.

The extreme heat is already breaking records across the Midwest and Northeast, and it's

set to continue into next week.

And the weather service in Caribou, Maine,

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