RUIDOSO, N.M. — UPDATE (11:40 a.m. June 18): As of Tuesday morning, an estimated 500 structures have been impacted by the South Fork Fire. Crews worked together Monday night to stop the fire’s spread and providing structure protection where they could, according to the New Mexico Forestry Division.
Around noon Tuesday, the forest service said fire behavior is creeping, but increased winds could push the fire further to the east and the northeast.
Air resources will be active Tuesday for as long as it is safe to operate, working in tandem with ground resources from multiple agencies, including tribal, federal, state and local agencies. This is a full suppression fire and all available resources are responding to help secure line and perform point protection for homes in and around Ruidoso.
Fire response will be broken up into three divisions that will work the fire’s south, east and northeast areas along the fire perimeter. Firefighter safety is a top priority.
Because of a lack of cell service in the area, crews will work to set up communication lines. Southwest Area Incident Management Team 5 – a Complex Incident Management Team – will arrive Tuesday for briefing and assume command of the fire at 6 a.m. June 19.
The South Fork Fire was discovered at 9 a.m. Monday, June 17 and is burning on Mescalero Tribal land, US Forest Service land and within the areas surrounding Ruidoso. Fire growth was rapid Monday with extreme fire behavior and long-range spotting and intense heat with plume domination may occur Tuesday afternoon and evening.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
The American Red Cross has reported 270 people checked in to shelters in Roswell and 120 in Capitan. Further evacuation numbers will be released once an approximate count has been generated. The Village of Ruidoso is closed for mandatory evacuation. Roads are now closed into town and people are asked to stay away from the area.
ORIGINAL STORY: Two wildfires in New Mexico have burned close to 20,000 acres since Monday and are at 0% containment, according to the Village of Ruidoso.
The South Fork fire has burned 13,921 acres and the Salt fire has burned 4,876 acres since Monday afternoon.
Mandatory evacuations because of the fires include Ruidoso Downs, Village of Ruidoso, Upper Canyon, Brady Canyon, Ponderosa Heights, Alpine Village, Lower Eagle Creek, Alto Lakes, Sonterra 1-3, Alto, West Gavilan, Sun Valley, Sierra Vista, Villa Madonna, Ski Run Road, areas west of Highway 48 and Gavilan Canyon Road.
A complex team is expected to arrive in the are Tuesday afternoon to assume command of the fire. Weather conditions are forecasted to be 15-20 mph with relative humidities in the single digits. Massive air attacks are planned and dozer lines are being cut Tuesday.
For more information, visit Ruidoso-NM.gov.