My cover photo shows smoke from the fires was carried northeastward towards the Capitan mountains and at times totally obscuring them on the 17th.
As of this morning the South Fork Fire had burned 17,551 acres, and the Salt Fire 7,816 acres. The South Fork Fire is 37% contained and the Salt Fire 7%. Ruidoso Mayor Lynn Crawford says that there are 29 people still missing or unaccounted for with two fatalities.
Local residents who live in the Ruidoso area are being allowed back in this morning to check on their properties, and return to their homes if they have not burned down. Anyone who does not live there will not be allowed in. The number of structures burned in the fires still remains at an estimated 1,400.
Local residents will be shocked at the amount of devastation they encounter when they return to Ruidoso. It will be hard to fathom for many. If even these communities rebuild Ruidoso will never be the same. A once pristine forest that once surrounded the area is now gone. The amount of pain, suffering, heartache, and grief these people and their communities feel now is indescribable. Our prayers and sympathy for all!
There has been a tremendous amount of damage to the infrastructure in and around Ruidoso. It will take weeks, if not months, for all of the damage to be repaired. As for the homes and businesses that’s another story. Rebuilding will be determined upon a number of factors such as were the homes covered by insurance and do those owners want to stay.
It will take a lifetime or more (100 years or more in some cases) for the Lincoln National Forest to completely recover from these fires that have occurred over the past 25 years.
South Fork Fire Update - Sunday, June 23, 2024
KOAT South Fork Fire Update - Sunday, June 23, 2024
Albuquerque National Weather Service Forecast For Ruidoso, New Mexico.
Thunderstorms producing heavy rainfall and destructive flash flooding have hindered fire fighting, recovery, cleanup, and search and rescue efforts. This will continue this week. The local flash flood threat will continue to be a problem over and near these burn scars for years to come, especially whenever heavy rain falls upon them.
Rio Ruidoso Flood Gauge
FBI offers 10K for information on cause of New Mexico wildfires
A flattened house that was destroyed by the South Fork Fire is shown in the mountain village of Ruidoso, N.M., Saturday, June 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Andres Leighton)
RUIDOSO, N.M. (KFOX) — The Federal Bureau of Investigation is assisting local, state, federal and tribal partners in the ongoing investigation of the wildfires near Ruidoso, New Mexico.
Read the rest of the article via the link above.
Bad Hoss Map Company is in Ruidoso NM.
UPDATE: Good morning folks. It's been a few days since we had a map update. That's partially due to slow fire growth, and partially due to confusing or incomplete information from official sources.
We have tried to compile the best information we have right now regarding fire extent and access to the village. We've added areas where the village is open to residents (green) and areas where the village is still off-limits to everyone (orange.)
Fire extents and potentially burned structures are still in shades of red. We have also added known roadblocks and entry points.
Currently the only entry point to Ruidoso is at the "Y" where Highway 70 and Sudderth meet on the south side of town. It is open to full-time residents only at this time. You CAN drive up Mechem from this access point, but apparently there is no access to the areas west of Mechem at this time.
NOTE: This is still a very fluid situation. The fires are still burning, things are still changing rapidly, and official sources have been slow to release new information or clarify confusing information. All maps represent the best information we had at the time of posting.
South Fork and Salt Fire Update 6/24/24
JUNE 24, 2024 BY GDUCKER 0 COMMENTS
Evacuations lifted; Crews mop-up, secure perimeter and conduct structural assessments as weather allows
Fire Information Phone: 575-323-8378 or 575-323-8258
Media Information Phone: 575-323-8053
Phone Line Hours: 8 am – 8 pm
Email: 2024.southfork@firenet.gov
Acres: South Fork – 17,551; Salt – 7,816
Start Date: June 17, 2024
Location: South Fork – Ruidoso Area, Salt – 7 mile west of Mescalero, NM
Personnel: 1,002
Containment: South Fork – 37%; Salt – 7%
Fuels: mixed conifer, grass, pine/juniper
Resources: The South Fork and Salt fires are currently staffed with 19 crews, 8 helicopters, 71 engines, 14 bulldozers, and 23 water tenders.
Highlights: Information regarding the South Fork and Salt fires, status of the surrounding communities, and other updates were provided on Sunday at the Community Meeting Facebook Live Stream. For those interested in accessing the recording, visit https://www.facebook.com/SWIMT5.
Fire Activity: Widespread precipitation caused localized flooding and limited firefighter access to areas across the South Fork and Salt fires on Sunday. Today, crews will focus on mop-up, clearing snags, hazard tree operations and securing the perimeter where conditions allow. Incident personnel will also continue structural assessments in neighborhoods and the fire area.
While fire behavior has reduced to smoldering and creeping in heavy duff and dead/down fuels, fire activity and smoke can increase in interior pockets of unburned fuel as warmer weather moves into the region. Residents and others traveling within the fire area should continue taking extra precautions as emergency vehicles, engines and equipment continue to travel and work along roadways.
Weather: The potential for scattered storms reduces slightly for Monday. Temperatures will be above normal with light winds. Scattered showers and thunderstorm potential will increase later in the week. After several days of rain, flash flooding and debris flows can occur faster and more abruptly, posing a safety concern for firefighters and the public.
Smoke: Smoke production will remain light to moderate on Monday. Additional details are available at https://outlooks.wildlandfiresmoke.net/outlook/430b2c05.
Evacuations: No evacuations are in place. Use www.lincolncountynm.gov and www.ruidoso-nm.gov/south-fork-fire for the latest information. More information available from the Lincoln County Emergency Operations Center at 575-258-6900.
Tribal members who have been displaced outside of the Mescalero Apache Reservation due to the fires are strongly encouraged to contact the Tribe’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) to help you and your families get back to the reservation. If you’re stranded out of town at other evacuation sites, please call the EOC at 575-464-9214 for more details.
Closures: A South Fork Fire Emergency Closure Order was issued on June 20, 2024, for national forest lands within the Smokey Bear Ranger District. The identified areas, and roads and trails therein, are closed to public access to allow firefighting personnel to work and through the fire area safely. More information is available at www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/lincoln/alerts-notices/?aid=88199.
A Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) is in place over the fire area. Public/commercial drone flights are also prohibited within this area. It is illegal for the public to fly drones within the fire area, including around private residences, businesses or other areas. If you fly, we may have to ground our air resources. Visit
https://www.tfr.faa.gov
for more information.
More information:
Inciweb: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/nmmea-south-fork-and-salt
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SWIMT5
Smoke Outlook: https://outlooks.wildlandfiresmoke.net/outlook/430b2c05
Lincoln County Government: www.lincolncountynm.gov
Mescalero Apache Tribe:
https://mescaleroapachetribe.com
Village of Ruidoso: www.ruidoso-nm.gov/south-fork-fire
The Truth Is Stranger Than Fiction!
You Want The Truth, You Can’t Handle The Truth!
There Are None So Blind As Those Who "Will - Not" To See!
You Can’t Wake Up - If You Don’t Know That You Are Asleep!
Update On The Ruidoso, NM Forest Fires & Flash Flooding - June 24, 2024.