| South Fork and Salt Fire Update 7/1NM

Severe flooding prompts evacuations, crews told to help mitigate flooding

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

Village of Ruidoso and Lincoln County Emergency Operations Center: 575-258-6900 (7 a.m.-10 p.m.)

Fire information telephone number:575-323-8378 or 575-323-8258 (8 a.m.-8 p.m.)

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, New Mexico

Staff: 690

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

Fuels:mixture of conifers, grass, pine/juniper

Resources:The South Fork and Salt fires are currently being managed by 16 crews, 3 helicopters, 24 engines,
2 bulldozers and 7 water tenders.

Strong points: Longer-lasting rains fell across the fire area Sunday, with totals ranging from 2 to 5 inches, causing severe flash flooding. Flooding will continue to be a threat as afternoon storms move through the South Fork and Salt fires on Monday.

Fire activity: The South Fork and Salt fires received significant rain late Saturday, further suppressing remaining heat sources. The majority of the remaining heat sources on the South Fork fire are downed logs located inside the control lines.

Structural assessments are nearly complete. Additionally, South Fork and Salt Fire crews will focus on flood mitigation today. Work to repair and remove constructed containment lines will continue as soon as it is safe to do so.

Weather report: The South Fork and Salt fires experienced scattered intense thunderstorms Sunday, resulting in flooding and debris flows. Residents and visitors are advised to stay informed of changing weather conditions and heed flood watches and warnings. Seek higher ground during afternoon storms, if possible.

Closures: 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. Identified areas, as well as roads and trails within them, are closed to public access to allow firefighting personnel to work and pass through the fire zone safely. More information is available at www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/lincoln/alerts-notices/?aid=88199.

The Mescalero Apache Tribe issued a Class V/Stage II Fire Restriction Notice – Extreme on June 28, 2024. More information is available at

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

More information:

Inciweb:

Facebook:

Smoke Outlook:

Lincoln County Government: www.lincolncountynm.gov

Mescalero Apache Tribe:

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