( CNN ) -- Thousands of firefighters battling to control dangerous wildfires in Arizona will get a small measure of relief this week as winds calm and humidity levels rise , the National Weather Service said Monday . Critical conditions are forecast Monday across large sections of New Mexico and Texas , and to a lesser extent in Oklahoma and Kansas . On Sunday , critical to extreme conditions could be found in those four states , plus Arizona , Colorado , Utah and Nevada . Arizona bore the brunt of Sunday 's fiery conflagration as flames outpaced firefighters ' efforts . The Monument Fire -- which U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell has deemed the nation 's No . 1 priority , putting it first in line for any air , ground or other resources -- jumped Highway 92 late Sunday afternoon at Carr Canyon heading east , according to the Cochise County website . `` We 've had a hard day today , with things that we did n't want to happen , '' fire spokesman Bill Paxton said Sunday night . `` The bull came out of the pen . '' Thanks to dry , windy conditions , the fire broke through four contingency lines , including going over to the other side of the highway , said Paxton , part of the national Interagency Incident Management Team . `` Everything aligned for a massive push , '' he said . `` It 's really hard on the community here . '' The Cochise County Sheriff 's Office broadened the evacuation zone east to the San Pedro River , reports InciWeb , an online interagency database that tracks fires , floods and other disasters . On Sunday evening , the website noted the fire had burned at least 26,956 acres and was 27 % contained . More than 1,000 personnel -- as well as 100 engines and nine helicopters -- were battling that blaze , which had destroyed 44 homes and 18 other structures from its start June 12 through Sunday . The weather has hardly been cooperating in the fight , with humidity at 7 % and temperatures topping 96 degrees . The National Weather Service forecast winds should weaken somewhat in the early part of this week , to between 7 mph and 13 mph in Sierra Vista , Arizona , though temperatures were still expected to remain in the 90s or higher all week . People living in Sierra Vista were ordered to leave Sunday while firefighters conducted burn-out operations in an attempt to stop the fire moving that way , CNN 's Thelma Gutierrez reported from the area . Even as the flames spread , some Sierra Vista residents turned to their faith . `` There are disasters , calamities and tragedies , '' Tucson Bishop Gerald Kicanas said during a special weekend service at St. Andrew the Apostle Church , reported CNN affiliate KGUN-TV in Tucson . `` We are with them in solidarity , '' Kicanas said . `` We pray for an end to the fire , we pray for the safety of our firefighters and we pray that the monsoon rains will come and free us from these terrible fires that have been so devastating . '' The church is taking donations for fire victims . Will Posko said he is housing several people in his home . `` Our hearts go out to those people , '' Posko told KGUN . `` We all have to help one another in this community . '' Parishioner Tom Felix said the community 's spirit and support overwhelmed him . `` Coming here ... and just seeing everybody , my goodness that 's beautiful faith , '' he told KGUN . Arizona Gov . Jan Brewer has issued emergency declarations for the Monument Fire and another blaze , Horseshoe II , making Cochise County eligible for $ 100,000 toward response and recovery expenses . In Texas , critical fire weather conditions were predicted across much of the state Monday , the Texas Forest Service said . The forest service is battling 20 wildfires , with 12 new large blazes reported Sunday . Some 500 homes are threatened in Jasper County , the service said , and 163 have been evacuated in Walker County . Nationwide , wildfires have burned almost as many acres in the first half of 2011 as were recorded by the National Interagency Fire Center for all of last year . The agency website reports 3.1 million acres in the United States had been ignited by wildfires as of May 31 , compared with 3.2 million burned acres cited in the organization 's year-end report in November 2010 . One Arizona blaze that started May 29 has mushroomed into a historically large wildfire . Known as the Wallow Fire , it has burned 519,319 acres and was 51 % contained as of Sunday evening . This fire caused power outages Sunday in Arizona cities Blue and parts of Alpine , Nutrioso and Greer , the Navopache Electric Cooperative reported on its website . Generators are powering some of the company 's New Mexico customers as well as those in Alpine , Arizona . Residents of Luna , New Mexico , were ordered to evacuate Saturday afternoon after the blaze jumped containment lines along U.S. 180 , according to InciWeb . But fire public information officer Rich Szlauko had some good news , saying that in terms of bringing the Wallow Fire under control , `` Everything is starting to look pretty good . '' Some 3,600 people continue to battle the blaze , in the face of winds Sunday measuring 20 mph to 30 mph , he said . But even with marginally improved conditions , authorities across the Southwest and southern Plains enforced expanded evacuations as flames cut off power to communities . CNN 's Ed Payne and Greg Botelho contributed to this report .
NEW : Critical weather conditions expected in Texas , where fires threaten hundreds of homes . Firefighters in Arizona have been stymied by strong winds , high temperatures , low humidity . Winds will lessen , humidity will increase as the week goes on . Comment: The wind is blowing from west to east