Governor of New Mexico asks Biden for help for forest fires: "I have evacuated 6,000 people. I have families who do not know what tomorrow will be like"

The New Mexico wildfires seen from the air 0:36

(CNN) --

The governor of New Mexico has requested a presidential disaster declaration to help secure more funding for her state as it battles the largest active wildfire in the United States.

Seven wildfires are active in New Mexico, the largest number in any state, according to the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC).

These fires have consumed more than 90,640 hectares, including more than 64,750 hectares charred by the combined Hermits Peak and Calf Canyon fires, which merged more than a week ago.

Brianna Valencia-Encinias and her 8-year-old son Lucas Encinias walk goats Tuesday in Las Vegas, New Mexico, as the Calf Canyon/Hermits Peak Fire burns southwest of the city.

New Mexico is directing emergency dollars to fight the fires, but it's not enough, Gov. Luján Grisham said Wednesday.

"I have evacuated 6,000 people. I have families who don't know what tomorrow will be like. I have families who are trying to raise their children, their own health resources, resolve their livelihoods, and they are in all the small communities," he said. .

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• More evacuations ordered as New Mexico wildfires spread rapidly

A presidential declaration of catastrophe would unlock resources "for watershed recovery, restoration of all those wild lands, and direct personal financial repair and assistance before the fire is out," Luján Grisham said.

"The president is very clear that that is coming, and we have every indication that we will be the first state to be able to move forward on this request and unlock these resources for New Mexicans," said Governor Michelle Luján Grisham.

CNN has contacted the White House for comment.

More than 15,000 homes could be threatened this week if the combined Hermits Peak and Calf Canyon fire continues to grow, a spokesman for the Southwest Incident Management Team said Tuesday.

The zone includes the city of Las Vegas, about 53 miles northeast of Albuquerque, as well as surrounding communities in San Miguel and Mora counties, management team spokesman Andy Lyon said.

A plane dumps fire retardant near the Hermit Peak fire and homes on the west side of Las Vegas, New Mexico, on Tuesday.

Some 172 houses have been destroyed in Mora and San Miguel counties, and more than 6,000 homes have been evacuated.

"One home lost for a New Mexico family is too much," the governor said.

"We are very appreciative of the work of the firefighters and emergency personnel."

With more than 64,750 acres burned, the combined Hermits Peak/Calf Canyon fire is the second largest fire in New Mexico in at least 30 years.

About 300,000 acres have burned in New Mexico so far this year.

That's more than the last two full years combined, said CNN meteorologist Brandon Miller.

Like much of the Southwest, New Mexico has been under a prolonged and severe drought, which has created critical conditions for fires.

Weather conditions for the April fires were the worst the state has seen in more than a decade.

The situation is "a long-term event," San Miguel and Mora counties said in a joint statement Tuesday.

"We don't anticipate being 'in control' of this fire any time soon."

-- CNN's Gregory Lemos, Theresa Waldrop, Nikki Carvajal and Monique Smith contributed to this report.

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