Latest: Ruidoso residents ordered to evacuate due to wildfire

RUIDOSO, N.M. — Authorities have ordered a mandatory evacuation of the entire village of Ruidoso as the South Fork Fire approaches.

Ruidoso authorities announced the evacuation at 6:48 p.m. Monday. The entire village of Sudderth/Mechem at Freedom Bloom at Big O Tire. They advise residents not to try to gather their belongings or protect their homes, but to simply “LEAVE NOW.”

The South Fork Fire was first reported around 10:50 a.m. Monday on the Mescalero Apache Reservation west of Ruidoso. Its size is now estimated at 4,715 acres as of 8:30 p.m. It was previously estimated at 4,156 as of 7:30 p.m. and 2,250 acres as of 7:01 p.m.

Capitan High School is open for evacuations. Authorities are also advising people to go to a loved one's home outside the affected area. If you can't get there, there is also a shelter open at Eastern New Mexico University in Roswell (details).

An evacuation center is also open to anyone, tribal or non-tribal, at the Inn of the Mountain Gods Convention Center. The Mescalero Community Center (108 Central Ave. Mescalero, NM 88340) is also available for evacuees.

The Ruidoso Convention Center is no longer accepting evacuations. That's because the fire is heading toward Ruidoso.

Highways 48 and 70 in Apache Summit are closed, so the only evacuation route is on Sudderth to Highway 70 and towards Roswell.

These areas are also in “SET” status and must be ready for a “GO” evacuation notification:

• West Gavilan Canyon
• Sierra Vista
• Villa Madonna
• Ski slope route
• Valley of the Sun
• All of West Highway 48

Village officials also advise that there is hot ash from the South Fork Fire falling in parts of Alto and along Airport Road. If you see hot ash spots or an active fire, they advise you to call 911.

The Mescalero Agency of the Bureau of Indian Affairs is the lead agency in fighting these fires. For assistance or questions, you can call 575-258-6900.

The salt fire also began Monday on the Mescalero Apache Reservation in Otero County, southwest of Ruidoso. According to the Watch Duty app, the size of the Salt Fire was now estimated at 2,815 acres as of 8:30 p.m. It measured 1,751 acres at 7:24 p.m. and 35 acres at 5:15 p.m.

On the reservation, residents of these areas are also in “GO” status.

• Apache Summit
• Snow sources
• Closing Canyon
• White tail
• Chihuahua Well
• fantastic way
• Summit area
• Botella road

The Mescalero Community Center is open if you would like to bring donations. You can take livestock to the Mescalero Rodeo Grounds. Call 575-464-9878 if you need help transporting your livestock.

Residents east of Botella Road are in “GO” status while Chatto Ridge residents are in “READY” status.

New Mexico State Police closed US Highway 70 from mileposts 249 to 258. That is, four miles east of Mescalero, two miles east of Carrizo , or from Botella Road to Highway 244.

State Highway 48 is closed between Alpine Village/University and State Highway 220, according to the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office.