Editor’s note: Video is from a special report on how Ruidoso is rebuilding after devastating fires and flooding in summer 2024.
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — Fire crews made “significant progress” in battling the Camp Fire on Tuesday, May 27, officials with the New Mexico Forestry Division said.
The fire remains at 720 acres but is now 47 percent contained, officials said.
The fire started on Sunday, and the cause remains under investigation.
The fire is buring in the Fort Stanton-Snowy River Cave National Conservation Area in Lincoln County, New Mexico.
Helping the approximate 150 firefighters was a light rain that fell on Tuesday afternoon.
Four structures, including three historic ones at Fort Stanton, have been damaged in the fire.
There are 52 miles of cave passages that run below the fire area and beyond. U.S. Bureau of Land Management specialists have determined that none of the caves have been damaged by the fire, officials with the Forestry Division said.
Fort Stanton remains closed. It is slated to reopen at 10 a.m. on Thursday, May 29.
The Rob Jaggers Campground and the Rio Bonito and West Mesa Road dispersed camping areas are closed and will remain closed until firefighting efforts have ended.
Highway 220 will reopen on Wednesday morning.
The BLM Roswell District, Lincoln County and the NM Forestry Division are all under fire restrictions or a burn ban. Campfires of any kind (wood, charcoal, wood stoves), chainsaw use, smoking outdoors, operating motorized vehicles off designated roads and outdoor welding are all prohibited.
Minimal smoke was visible from the fire on Tuesday.
Fire restrictions information: https://www.emnrd.nm.gov/sfd/find-current-fire-restrictions/
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