Ruidoso Evacuations Begin as Fire Consumes 5,200 Acres
TL/DR –
The Village of Ruidoso in New Mexico is under evacuation orders due to the South Fork Fire, which started near Mescalero at South Fork Canyon and has burned at least 5,252 acres. Several nearby areas have been given “Go” status, indicating immediate evacuation is necessary, and evacuation centers have been set up at various locations. Power is out in parts of the village impacting over 2,200 people, several highways are closed, and fire suppression efforts are being done by air due to dangerous ground conditions.
Evacuation Orders for Ruidoso due to South Fork Fire
The South Fork Fire has prompted immediate evacuation orders for the Village of Ruidoso. It is advised to evacuate without gathering any belongings or attempting to protect homes. The evacuation route leads from Sudderth Drive to Highway 70 towards Roswell.
The fire originated in South Fork Canyon near Mescalero on Monday, consuming over 5,252 acres, as verified by the New Mexico Forestry Division. The Village of Ruidoso has declared additional “Go” statuses, necessitating immediate evacuation for numerous areas nearby, including Upper Canyon, Brady Canyon, Ponderosa Heights, Alpine Village, Cedar Creek, and Flume Canyon.
Evacuation Centers and Power Outages
With the Ruidoso Convention Center no longer accepting new evacuees, an evacuation center is being established at the Roswell campus of Eastern New Mexico University and Capitan High School. Facilities for large animals and campers are available at the Eastern New Mexico State Fairgrounds, while the Humane Society of Lincoln County is open for emergency pet boarding.
Parts of the Village have lost power, affecting over 2,200 residents. These outages were requested by first responders for safety.
Mescalero Apache Areas under “Go” Status
The Mescalero Apache Tribe has also issued “Go” statuses for areas including Snow Springs, Fence Canyon, Whitetail, Chihuahua Well, Fantasy Lane, Summit area, and Botella Road. The tribe has set up an evacuation center at the Community Center and the Mescalero Rodeo Grounds for livestock. An additional shelter is open to everyone at the Inn of the Mountain Gods Convention Center.
Other Areas in “Set” Status and Road Closures
Other areas such as Gavilan Canyon (West), Sun Valley, Sierra Vista, Villa Madonna, Ski Run Road, and all areas west of Highway 48 have been put in “Set” status. U.S. Highway 70 and State Highway 48 are currently closed. The Village of Ruidoso reports hot ash falling in Alto and along Airport Road, urging anyone who spots an active fire to call 911.
Multiple fire agencies and aircrafts are responding to the fire, with suppression efforts occurring by air due to dangerous ground conditions for firefighters. Grindstone Lake will be closed on Monday due to fire response aircraft operation. For news updates, download the KOAT app.
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