Wildfires ravage huge expanses of south-western US – in pictures

A fire engulfs some of the rugged terrain off Forest Road 141 in the Gila National Forest, New Mexico. The fire has destroyed more than 170,000 acres, becoming the largest wildfire in the state's history Photograph: Handout/Reuters

Smoke billows from the site of the wildfire at the Whitewater-Baldy Complex of the Gila National Forest, which is believed to have been started by a lightning strike Photograph: Handout/Reuters

During the struggle to bring the fires under control officials issued an evacuation order to nearby communities Photograph: Handout/Reuters

Firefighters are seen moving through the burnt out terrain near Forest Road 141 in New Mexico Photograph: Reuters

This Nasa satellite image from 27 May shows the extent of the wildfire burning in New Mexico. The fire now encompasses an area larger than New York City Photograph: Nasa/Reuters

Wildfires also burned across Arizona, Nevada and Colorado. This view of the Gladiator Fire near Crown King, Arizona was taken from the fire operations base camp in Mayer Photograph: Reuters

A helicopter returning from the Sunflower wildfire passes in front of the solar eclipse over Payson, Arizona on 20 May. The largest of four Arizona fires, the Sunflower fire was all but extinguished and resources were being assigned to the other fires Photograph: Reuters

A home is engulfed by flames from a wildfire, south of Gardnerville, Nevada. The fast-moving wildfire near the Nevada-California line destroyed property in its path as it forced evacuations and sent up huge plumes of black smoke Photograph: Cathleen Allison/AP

Firefighters battle the wildfire south of Gardnerville in Nevada. The wildfire season in the US south-west is shaping up to be even more devastating than last year Photograph: Cathleen Allison/AP