5-25-2024 9:59am

Blue 2 Fire Doubles in Size, Additional Evacuations Ordered

Chris Edwards Editor

Photos Tell Lawrence Steven Lee Carpenter Blue 2 Fire doubles in 24 hours

The Blue 2 Fire near Riudoso in what was a small remote fire that the Forestry Service originally let burn on its own due to being remote yesterday had burned 1400 acres and has since doubled to almost 3,300 with zero containment and high winds expected this evening.

Evacuation orders have been expanded and the following areas are under GO status evacuations: Villa Madonna Subdivision, Forest Service Road 127Aalso known as Upper Eagle Creek off of Ski Run Road and surrounding area along 532 Ski Run Rd and areas along Bonito Lake Road, Forest Service Road 108 and Forest Service Road 107 are in go or mandatory evacuation status.

The following areas are under SET evacuation: Sierra Vista Subdivision, and Sun Valley Subdivision.

The following areas are under READY evacuation status: Angus.

An evacuation center is set up at the Lincoln County Fairgrounds at 101 5th Street in Capitan.

The Blue 2 Fire is currently burning in the White Mountain Wilderness of the Lincoln National Forest area northwest of Ruidoso. The area around Bonito Lake that has been evacuated has been on a 10 year recovery plan from the last major forest fire in that area of the forest. It was scheduled to open back up this weekend. Bonito lake is a primary drinking source for safe water for the city of Alamogordo and millions have been investigated by the city, state and federal authorities to recover it from the previous major fire and remove the fire silt and runoff to ensure a safe water supply. All of that decade long effort is at risk of being undermined due to this most recent active fire.

The Blue 2 Fire continues to impact our community. The latest data from the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) reveal a significant increase in the fire's perimeter. As updated on the Watch Duty map, the fire now covers approximately 3300 acres.

A public meeting was held last night in Ruidoso and a recording of that meeting can be seen below…
https://www.facebook.com/Blue2Fire/videos/836363655056437/?fs=e&mibexti…

A total of 177 personnel double from yesterday are currently assigned to the fire, with additional resources en route to assist in the ongoing efforts. High Wind Warning is in effect from 11 AM to 6 PM MST today, May 25th, with southwest winds of 35-45 mph and gusts up to 60 mph. Smoke is expected in and around Ruidoso. Stay alert and follow local authority instructions and stay turned to AlamogordoTownNews.org, streaming KALHRadio.org and Lincoln County Sheriff’s Facebook and the official Blue 2 Incident page for updates…
https://www.facebook.com/Blue2Fire?mibextid=LQQJ4d