Severe drought conditions and relentless fires are proving to be a brutal combination in New Mexico. 

What little water the state has is being utilized to battle the wildfires that have destroyed property and land and forced residents from their homes, according to KOB 4.

Firefighters have used millions of gallons of water to fight the fire, forcing the state to use all resources at its disposal, KOB 4 reoported.

Andy Lyon, a spokesperson for Southwest Incident Management, said every option is being explored.

"Private ponds, we've used the City of Las Vegas Bradner Reservoir, and there are some other sources around this very large fire that we're using," Lyon told KOB 4. "We use [water] very strategically, and we use it very carefully, because we know it's a precious resource."

New Mexico already suffered from low water levels before the fires began five months ago. 

New Mexico Environment Department and City of Las Vegas officials asked residents to limit their water consumption so there is enough for firefighters to use. Crews have also pulled nearly a million gallons from Lake Isabel, near Las Vegas.

"Our agreement with the owner is, not to exceed five million gallons. So, we have used almost one-fifth of what we have contracted to use," Lyon told KOB 4. "We have managers at the heli-base, at the Las Vegas airport, who are tracking our water uses – our water usage – because as I mentioned earlier, we do have contracts for this water so we do have to pay for it."

The expense is worth it if lives are saved, Lyon said.

"If it's a choice between water and life, ... safety is going to come first and we're going to use the water to preserve life," he said.