6-18-2024 8:41am

South Fork and Salt Fire Update Tuesday 8 am: 19,000 Acres Burned Evacuations Continue

Chris Edwards Editor

Edited Wednesday: a more recent update is found at

https://2ndlifemediaalamogordo.town.news/g/alamogordo-nm/n/264514/wedne…

In the latest release from officials with Ruidoso, the Complex Team will be arriving this afternoon to assume command of the fire and to date there is zero containment with continued evacuations. Weather conditions today are expected to be similar to yesterday's, with winds forecasted at 15-20 MPH and relative humidities in the single digits.

Today, there will be massive air attacks, and dozer lines are being cut to help contain the fire per fire officials.

Public Service Company of New Mexico shut off power to part of the village of Ruidoso due to the fire, which was estimated at about 8.2 sq miles (21.2 sq km) with 0% containment, the state forestry division said late on Monday. The agency said multiple structures were under threat and a number had been lost.

Additionally, please monitor the Village Facebook page and tune into 1490 AM for further updates.

The most recent release of information this morning is:

South Fork

13,921 acres

0% containment

Salt Fire

4,876 acres

0% containment

Most recent evacuation orders still standing:

All of Ruidoso Downs
All of the Village of Ruidoso
Upper Canyon
Brady Canyon
Ponderosa Heights
Alpine Village
Cedar Creek
Lower Eagle Creek
Alto Lakes
Sonterra 1, 2 and 3
All of Alto All the Way to the Outlaw Golf Course
West Gavilan
Sun Valley
Sierra Vista
Villa Madonna
Ski Run Road
All West of Hwy 48

EVACUATION NOTES

Highway 380 is open through Hondo.

Both Highway 48 and Highway 70 at Apache Summit are closed, so the evacuation route is Highway 70 to Roswell.

State Hwy 48 is closed from Alpine Village/University to State Hwy 220.

US 70 is closed from mm 249 (intersection NM 244), 4 miles east of Mescalero, to mm 258, 2 miles east of Carrizo.

The Ruidoso Convention Center is not taking any more evacuations and those who are there will shelter in place should the status at the Convention Center change, according to the Facebook page.

Those with pets can take them to the Humane Society of Lincoln County located at 25962 U.S. Highway 70 in Ruidoso.

For Mescalero Apache residents, an evacuation center is still available at the Mescalero Community Center Gymnasium.

For those who cannot go to Capitan because of the Highway 70 closures, a shelter has been set up at 52 University Blvd. in Roswell.

EMERGENCY RESOURCES

The Emergency Operations Center has relocated to the County Courthouse in Carrizozo and has new phone numbers for the phone bank. Please call any of the following numbers, and we will do our best to answer questions as we gather information.

EOC Numbers

Shelters

Capitan High School
Capitan, NM 88316, USA
Carrizozo High School
800 D Ave, Carrizozo, NM 88301, USA
Christ Community Church
2960 N Scenic Dr, Alamogordo, NM 88310, USA
Church on the Move
901 W Brasher Rd, Roswell, NM 88203, USA
Church on the Move Dream Center
2700 W 2nd St, Roswell, NM 88201, USA
Eastern New Mexico University
52 University Blvd, Roswell, NM 88203, USA
Godfrey Athletic Center
101 W College Blvd, Roswell, NM 88201, USA
Inn of the Mountain Gods
287 Carrizo Canyon Rd, Mescalero, NM 88340, USA

Animal Shelters

Mescalero Rodeo Grounds (livestock)
Rodeo Grounds Rd, Mescalero, NM 88340
Eastern New Mexico State Fairgrounds
2500 SE Main St, Roswell, NM 88203, USA
Lea County Fairgrounds
101 S Commercial St, Lovington, NM 88260, USA

Incident Map URL: https://www.arcgis.com/apps/mapviewer/index.html?webmap=e2c6d99f914c44cbb18b75e73beef035

Ruidoso Webcam: https://www.discoverruidoso.com/ruidoso-webcam

All Village of Ruidoso employees are advised to remain at their current locations until they receive further instructions from their supervisors.

Lea County Fairgrounds are available to anyone evacuating from Ruidoso
We have stables and RV hookups. Please share and contact Fairgrounds Director Wyatt Duncan at 575-333-0252

For Mescalero Apache CHR will be on call for Elderly needing assistance. They can be reached at 575-464-9256 or 575-464-4058.

The City of Alamogordo says it’s sending a team of firefighters to Ruidoso. Alamogordo Police have also mobilized to potentially assist with any traffic control needs.

Also, staff at the Alamogordo Civic Center has been placed on standby and is ready to open the facility as needed.

In a report from the City of Alamogordo they have announced that in cooperation with the emergency response teams and Otero County Office of Emergency Services, the Alamo Senior Center has been designated as an overflow facility for the Incident Command Post in response to the evacuation of the Village of Ruidoso. As a result, the Alamo Senior Center will be closed to the public.

However, congregate meals will still be available to our patrons from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM. Additionally, city staff will continue to provide home delivery services for those in need.

New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham said in a statement that her administration has been in “close contact” with state, tribal, and federal officials and they are deploying as “many resources as possible to protect people and property.”