| South Fork and Salt 7/3NM Fire Update

Crews assist community while waiting for road conditions to improve

Mescalero Apache Tribe Emergency Operations Center: 575-464-9214 (8am-6pm)

Ruidoso Village and Lincoln County Emergency Operations Center: 575-258-6900 (7am-10pm)

Fire information telephone number:575-323-8378 or 575-323-8258 (8am-8pm)

Media Information Phone: 575-323-8053 (8am-8pm)

E-mail: [email protected]

Acres: South Fork – 17,569; Salt – 7,939

Start date: June 17, 2024

Location:South Fork – Ruidoso, Salt Area – 7 miles west of Mescalero, NM

Staff: 532

Containment: South Fork – 87%; Salt – 84%

Fuels:mixture of conifers, grass, pine/juniper

Resources:The South Fork and Salt fires are currently being fought by 11 crews, 1 helicopter, 16 engines,
2 bulldozers and 5 water tankers.

Strong points:

Fireworks – Fireworks are still prohibited in the Lincon National Forest. On the Mescalero Apache Indian Reservation, fireworks are only allowed as part of an organized event.

Fire Restrictions – Fire restrictions have been updated on Mescalero Apache Tribe lands. Details available in “Closures,” below.

Flood mitigation – On Tuesday, crews once again supported flood mitigation efforts, filling a

28,000 additional sandbags for the community, bringing the total of sandbags filled over 2 days to more than

46,000.

Fire activity: Fire activity remains limited on the South Fork and Salt fires. Remaining heat sources on the South Fork fire are downed logs away from control lines. Hot spots on the Salt fire remain in dense stands of conifers and snags and do not threaten containment.

Fire repair and suppression crews will be working in the South Fork and Salt Fires area today. As conditions permit, crews will focus on road and dozer line repairs as well as mulching operations.

While the monsoon season is underway in the region, dry fuels are still present due to the continued long-term drought affecting the region. Large diameter fuels, such as dead or fallen logs, are dry for this time of year. As we approach the July 4th holiday, please refrain from using fireworks as they can cause new fires in lingering dry fuels.

Weather report: Wednesday will see light clouds over the fire area, temperatures around 80 degrees and a chance of scattered rain. The rest of the week will be a mix of warm and dry weather, followed by more scattered thunderstorms.

Closures and restrictions: An emergency closure order for the South Fork Fire was issued on June 20, 2024, for National Forest lands in the Smokey Bear Ranger District. More information is available at www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/lincoln/alerts-notices/?aid=88199.

The Mescalero Apache Tribe has issued an updated Class V/Stage II – Extreme Fire Restriction Notice effective July 1, 2024. More information is available on the Mescalero Apache Tribe Facebook page at www.facebook.com/mescaleroapachetribe.

A Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) is in effect over the fire zone. Public/commercial drone flights are also prohibited in this area. If you are flying, we may have to ground our air resources. Visit the site for more information.

More information:

Inciweb:

Facebook:

Lincoln County Government: www.lincolncountynm.gov

Mescalero Apache Tribe:

Village of Ruidoso: www.ruidoso-nm.gov/south-fork-fire