A wildfire burning near Hermit Peak has now spread to over 7,000 acres and is only 10% contained, according to KOB 4.

The fire started after strong winds in the region caused a controlled burn to spread too quickly.

Firefighters have been attempting to contain the blaze since April 6, but it has continued to expand and spread to 7,077 acres, as of April 14.

Julie Anne Overton, public affairs officer with the Santa Fe National Forest, said the location of the fire has made it significantly harder for firefighting teams in the area to contain it.

"It's a very challenging situation,” she said, according to KOB 4. "That's why we are relying on aviation resources to a great deal."

Overton said crews adhere to a set of criteria prior to initiating a controlled burn.

"From the National Weather Service, before we do a prescribed burn, we get a spot forecast and it is very specific to that site, and everything was well within the prescription window," she said, according to KOB 4.

Firefighters managed to contain the blaze to 1,908 acres on April 12, but the fire expanded northeast due to high winds of 50 to 70 miles per hour.

In response to the spread, firefighters are deploying measures to halt or delay the spread into residential areas.

Fire officials on April 13 ordered the evacuation of Las Dispensas, Pendaries Village, San Ignacio, Las Tusas, Lone Pine Mesa, Canoncito, La Canada, Manuelitas, Lower Canyon Road in Gallinas Canyon and La Tewa, Chavez, County A3, Southwest Sapello, and Southern Tierra Monte-Canyon, KOB 4 reported. 

Currently, 354 firefighters are battling the blaze with the assistance of special firefighting units.

An additional 100 firefighters are covering the night shift to guarantee the blaze does not get out of control.