Wednesday AM Fire Update Ruidoso Fires: 21,000 Acres Burned, 1200 Structures and One Confirmed Death

An estimated 8,000 people have been evacuated from the area. Village of Ruidoso is under mandatory evacuation. US 70 is closed from mm 249 (intersection NM 244), 4 miles east of Mescalero, to mm 258, 2 miles east of Carrizo. The only available evacuation route is on Sudderth to Highway 70, leading out to Roswell. The Village of Ruidoso had received urgent new information late yesterday regarding the Salt Fire. The fire was then making a significant run towards Ruidoso Downs, posing an imminent threat to the area causing an evacuation of much livestock and the horses around the track areas. 

Mandatory Evacuation Ordered:

The City of Ruidoso Downs is under a mandatory evacuation order effective immediately in addition to other areas. All residents must evacuate immediately. Please leave your homes and head to a safe location without delay.

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

• Capitan Fairgrounds

  101 5th Street, Capitan, NM 88316

• 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

Stay Informed:

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

Please stay tuned to local news channels, our South Fork/Salt Fire Information Hub, our official Facebook page and tune in at 1490 AM for updates and further instructions.

We urge all residents to act swiftly and prioritize their safety. Thank you for your cooperation during this critical time.

The response crews were able to directly engage areas of the fire’s footprint when conditions allowed. Approximately 1200 to 1,400 structures in the area have been lost.

The South Fork Fire was discovered at 9 a.m., Monday, June 17, 2024; it is burning on Mescalero Tribal land, US Forest Service land and within the areas surrounding Ruidoso. Fire growth has been rapid with extreme fire behavior. Long range spotting and intense heat with plume domination. The cause of the fire is under investigation with the Mayor of Cloudcroft claiming an arson investigation is underway. 

Erick Kimbrell, IC Type 3, BIA, Mescalero, Forest Service, multiple aviation assets, Lincoln County, Otero County, Village of Ruidoso, Ruidoso Downs, Forestry Division. Complex Incident Management (CIM) Team arrived at 1300 today for inbrief and shadow. CIMT took over the fire on Wednesday June 19, at 6 a.m.

Source Information George Ducker, Communications Coordinator, New Mexico State Forestry Division – EMNRD

george.ducker@emnrd.nm.gov

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

Please stay tuned to local news channels, our South Fork/Salt Fire Information Hub, our official Facebook page and tune in at 1490 AM for updates and further instructions.

We urge all residents to act swiftly and prioritize their safety. Thank you for your cooperation during this critical time.

One person has died from the fire, according to the New Mexico Governor's Office and as reported by KOAT. 

Individuals are staying in 10 different shelters and service centers mostly in Roswell, along with the Inn of the Mountain Gods, Lujan Grisham said.

Crews also rescued seven patients from the Lincoln County Medical Center, she said.

Another 15 people living at the Good Life Senior Living and Memory Care Ruidoso were taken to the Ruidoso Convention Center, according to a spokesperson for the New Mexico Department of Health. A dozen of them were picked up by family, and staff accompanied the remaining three who were evacuated to Artesia, the spokesperson said.

Lujan Grisham provided two 24/7 phone hotlines available for those who need assistance. Those can be used by calling 833-NMFIRE6 or 833-663-4736. She also provided information to donate to the Community Foundation of southern New Mexico.

Lujan Grisham said the National Guard was deployed to the area to assist as needed. New Mexico State Police also responded to assist with traffic and patrols in the burned area.

The governor also said she has been in constant communication with state, federal and tribal authorities.

Some provisions of the State of Emergency includes:

• State Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management is coordinating assistance and response requests
• National Guard deployment to provide military support to civil authorities
• All state cabinet departments and agencies under gubernatorial control directed to provide necessary assistance.

To read the full executive order, click here.

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