Wildfire forces southern New Mexico town of Ruidoso to evacuate

Lina Portman3 weeks ago

0 2 minutes read

Authorities on Monday ordered the immediate evacuation of Ruidoso, New Mexico, as a wildfire raged just outside the town.

The South Fork Fire was burning just northwest of the town of 7,700. As of Monday evening, it spanned more than 5,200 acres, according to the National Interagency Fire Center. The fire, which was first spotted at 9 a.m. local time, threatened several structures, according to the New Mexico Forestry Division. The nearby Salt Fire had grown to at least 3,100 acres.

“Please do not try to gather your belongings or protect your home – LEAVE NOW,” officials said.

Evacuation centers were set up at the Inn of the Mountain Gods, a lodging facility about three miles south of Ruidoso, and at Eastern New Mexico University in Roswell, about 65 miles east . The Mescalero rodeo grounds were home to evacuated livestock.

A live webcam showed heavy traffic heading east, as haze and smoke filled the sky.

State authorities could not immediately identify the cause of the fire. “Due to fire activity and rapid growth, material handling and mechanical crews were unable to respond to the fire front; aerial resources conducted drops throughout the afternoon,” the New Mexico Forestry Division said.

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D-) said on social media that she was in contact with state, tribal and federal officials about the fires, and she urged residents to remain calm and follow instructions from authorities.

Authorities considered Ruidoso a high-risk area in 2000 due to the thick forests surrounding the town that can serve as fuel for wildfires, leading to “catastrophic” damage to residential properties, water supplies and the local population, according to the Federal Emergency Management Service. Agency. That year, the New Mexico Division of Forestry ranked the city first in the state for its significant risk of catastrophic fire, and the U.S. Forest Service ranked it second in the nation. Since then, the village has worked with local, state and federal officials on a wildfire protection plan.

Last month, the Blue 2 Fire broke out north of Ruidoso, burning more than 7,500 acres and causing $25 million in damage, according to NIFC. In 2022, the McBride Fire broke out near the town, burning at least 4,000 acres, destroying 200 homes, and killing two people. The Cree Fire in 2000 burned 8,200 acres but caused no deaths.