of South Fork Fire And that Salt Fire There are fires burning on Mescalero Tribal land, U.S. Forest Service land, and in the area surrounding Ruidoso. Both fires are being managed by Mescalero Apache Fire and Rescue and the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Multiple Incident Management Teams have been dispatched.
South Fork Fire
update: The South Fork Fire is currently estimated at 5,252 acres with 0% containment. Winds and low relative humidity are expected to keep the fire burning overnight. Multiple structures are at risk and an unknown number of structures lost. Ten Type 1 Hotshot crews are on or en route to the scene. The incident will be turned over to the Complex Incident Management Team tomorrow.
The South Fork Fire was discovered at 9:00 AM on Monday, June 17, 2024. It is burning on Mescalero Tribal lands, U.S. Forest Service lands, and the surrounding Ruidoso area. The fire is growing rapidly with extreme fire behavior; widespread fire spread and intense heat with smoke dominating. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
weather: Temperature 79, humidity 11%, southwest wind 18 mph, maximum gusts 25 mph. Tonight: Low around 58. Southwest wind 15 to 20 mph decreasing to 10 to 15 mph after midnight. Tomorrow: Sunny, with a high around 86. Southwest wind 10 to 15 mph.
smoke: People sensitive to wildfire smoke should take precautions and use the New Mexico Department of Health’s 5-3-1 visibility method to determine when it is safe to be outdoors. For more information, see https://nmtracking.doh.nm.gov/environment/air/FireAndSmoke.html. Use the interactive smoke map at https://fire.airnow.gov/ to zoom in on your area and see the latest smoke conditions.
Evacuation/Closing: The Village of Ruidoso is under mandatory evacuation. US 70 is closed from 249, 4 miles east of Mescalero (at the intersection with NM 244), to 258, 2 miles east of Carrizo. The only evacuation route available is from Sudderth via Highway 70 to Roswell.
The Eastern New Mexico University Roswell Campus evacuation shelter is located in the gym at 52 University Blvd, Roswell, NM 88203. If you have livestock or RVs, please come to the Eastern New Mexico State Fairgrounds at 2500 SE Main St, Roswell, NM 88203.
Community resources: The Emergency Operations Center is currently operational. For information or assistance regarding the South Fork Fire or any other emergency, please call 575-258-6900.
Residents and visitors who wish to evacuate voluntarily may do so at Capitan High School, located at 519 Smokey Bear Boulevard, Capitan, New Mexico. The Ruidoso Convention Center is not accepting any further evacuations. If conditions at the Convention Center change, people there will be evacuated in place.
Pets can be taken to the Lincoln County Humane Society at: 25962 US-70, Ruidoso, NM 88345
Mescalero Evacuations: The tribe’s evacuation center for reservation residents is located in the Community Center Gymnasium.
Incident map URL: https://www.arcgis.com/apps/mapviewer/index.html?webmap=e2c6d99f914c44cbb18b75e73beef035
For more information on shelters and evacuations, please visit: https://www.facebook.com/villageofruidoso
https://www.facebook.com/mescaleroapachetribe
shelter:
Lodge of the Mountain God, for tribals or non-tribals —
287 Carrizo Canyon Road, Ruidoso NM
In Roswell:
ENMU-R Gymnasium
52 B University Boulevard
Mobile Church
901 W. Brasher
NMMI Godfrey Center
101 West College
NM Dream Center
2700 West 2nd Street
ENM Fairground
RVs and Large Animals
2500 SE Main
Roswell Convention Center
900 North Main
Roswell Aquatic Center
1500 West College
—
acre: Estimated 5,252
Start date and time: 9:00 AM June 17, 2024
Cause: Under investigation
positionRio Ruidoso, west of the Upper Ruidoso Canyon area
Ownership: Tribe
Structural Threat: Multiple structures compromised and unknown structures lost
resource: The Bureau of Indian Affairs, Mescalero Apache Fire Department, U.S. Forest Service, multiple aviation assets, regional resources and a Multi-Incident Management Team are expected to be deployed on Tuesday, June 18th.
Containment: 0%
fuel: Mixed conifers
##
Salt Fire
positionMescalero Reservation, Otero County, southwest of Ruidoso
size: 2,815 acres
Containment: 0%
resource: BIA, Mescalero, U.S. Forest Service, multiple aviation assets
Fire activity: Active
Evacuation: Evacuation orders remain in effect overnight for Chattoo Bluff, Apache Summit, Fantasy Lane, homes along Highway 70 from Highway 244 east to the reservation line, Bear Canyon and Snow Canyon.
weather: Temperature 79, humidity 11%, southwest wind 18 mph, maximum gusts 25 mph. Tonight: Low around 58. Southwest wind 15 to 20 mph, decreasing to 10 to 15 mph after midnight. Tomorrow: Sunny, with a high around 86. Southwest wind 10 to 15 mph.
