One of the many growing wildfires in New Mexico is forcing residents near Los Alamos National Laboratory to prepare for possible evacuations.

Why it matters: Los Alamos National Laboratory is one of the nation's premier nuclear labs and is where the world's first atomic bomb was developed during World War II.

Driving the news: Authorities announced Monday that Los Alamos County and Los Alamos National Lab would be placed on "set" status because of the expanding Cerro Pelado Fire. Communities use the "Ready, Set, Go" status before evacuating.

Details: The Cerro Pelado Fire has ballooned to 68 square miles in the Jemez Mountains and is only 11% contained.

If evacuations are ordered for Los Alamos, LANL facilities would be placed on a standardized “safe shutdown" process to ensure the safety and security of each building, according to its procedures and materials on hand.

What's next: High wind and low humidity over the past two days have caused the Cerro Pelado Fire to grow, but officials say the blaze near Los Alamos is burning slowly.

Yes, but: New Mexico's unpredictable weather could change that and quickly place Los Alamos in danger.

Don't forget: Around 96% of New Mexico is under severe drought or worse, according to the Federal Drought Monitor.