5-22-2024 4:16am

Evacuations Lifted 8 pm Tuesday Moser Fire Near Cloudcroft

Chris Edwards Editor

The Moser fire near Cloudcroft located approximately 4 miles outside of town is reported by the U.S. Forestry Service as 12% contained and as of 8 p.m. Tuesday local law enforcement has lifted the evacuation order.

"We need to go through this burn period today, get through the peak burning period, make sure the fire is going to remain in its current footprint, and then we'll evaluate when we start to lift those restrictions of evacuations," said Caleb Finch, the incident commander as reported by KOAT News.

According to New Mexico Fire the Moser Fire is at 12% contained this evening. All lines built yesterday are holding. Crews have built containment lines around the fire. Containment numbers are expected to increase as fire officials continue securing the fire’s parameter.

Firefighters from US Forest Service, Volunteer Fire Departments, BLM, State, 2-dozer, 1 helicopter, additional aviation resources (as needed)

Types of vegetation in the area (aka fuels): Mixed Conifer

Containment: 12% with a goal of full suppression. The evacuation orders for residents on Alpine Road, Hollywood Boulevard, Pine Ridge Loop Road and Wildwood Loop Road were ordered as lifted as of 8 pm on Tuesday.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

The Blue Fire also in the Lincoln Forest National park is continuing to burn but not considered a threat.

The overall strategy for the Blue 2 Fire near Ruidoso is to continue monitoring while allowing it to take its natural course as much as possible. Due to the remote location and severe terrain, direct engagement is currently unsafe. Fire managers are working to establish a safe perimeter for crews to contain the wildfire effectively.

Key Points:

Blue Fire: No growth, remains at 0.5 acres.
Blue 2 Fire: Holding steady at 45 acres.
Visibility: Smoke may still be visible from Ruidoso and surrounding areas.

While allowing the fire to progress naturally, crews are prepared to take necessary actions to protect private land, infrastructure, and natural resources if the wildfire threatens values adjacent to the wilderness areas. Continuous monitoring by air and ground resources helps predict fire behavior and spread rates.

For more information and updates on the Blue Fires, please visit the following resources: