A thunderstorm brewing over the smoky skies of New Mexico has the potential to either aid or hinder firefighters battling a deadly wildfire, fire officials reported on Thursday. The wildfire, an amalgamation of two fires that merged since igniting on Monday, has engulfed a massive 23,406 acres near the mountain town of Ruidoso with zero containment.

According to the latest estimates by New Mexico Fire Information, the devastating fire has tragically claimed the lives of two people, identified as Patrick Pearson, 60, and another unnamed individual. Pearson was discovered near the Swiss Chalet Motel with severe burn injuries, while the details surrounding the second victim have yet to be disclosed. Additionally, the fire has resulted in the destruction of 500 homes and around 1,400 other structures.

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham confirmed these harrowing figures and stated that approximately 8,000 residents in the affected area have been ordered to evacuate to safety.

With the incoming thunderstorm, fire officials remain uncertain about its potential impact on the 824 firefighters and support staff diligently working on the fire's front lines. Dave Shell, the public information officer for the incident management team overseeing the blaze, explained that heavy rainfall could help dampen the fire's destructive path, providing an advantage to firefighters. However, he also highlighted that the storm could generate unpredictable wind patterns, possibly pushing the fire in various directions and necessitating a retreat of firefighting crews.

According to Andrew Mangham, a senior hydrologist with the National Weather Service in Albuquerque, the impending storm is unrelated to the recent flooding in the region. Nonetheless, some of its moisture may be remnants of Tropical Storm Alberto, which had weakened to a depression before making landfall on Mexico's Gulf Coast on Thursday.

The National Weather Service predicts that the storm will hit Ruidoso sometime between 3 p.m. and midnight on Thursday, accompanied by southeast winds of 10 to 15 mph. A flood watch has been issued until 6 a.m. on Friday.

Since the onset of the fires earlier this week, firefighters have been diligently working to construct a fire line between the advancing flames and the town of Ruidoso, in an effort to protect the community.

As the thunderstorm looms, the unpredictable nature of its impact adds to the already perilous conditions faced by firefighters battling the New Mexico wildfire. Only time will reveal whether this storm will prove to be a double-edged sword, either aiding their efforts or forcing them to retreat further from the front lines.