EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — The South Fork Fire and the Salt Fire have grown significantly overnight, and together are estimated to be close to 20,000 acres as of Tuesday morning, June 18.
The South Fork Fire is currently at 13,921 acres with 0 containment and the Salt Fire is at 4,876 acres with 0 containment, according to the Village of Ruidoso’s Facebook page.
Both fires are around the Mescalero Apache Reservation and near Ruidoso, New Mexico.
At around 7 p.m. Monday, June 17, an immediate evacuation order was issued for the entire Village of Ruidoso.
An immediate mandatory “Go” evacuation for the village is still in effect.
The entire village from Sudderth/Mechem to Freedom Bloom at Big O Tire has also been ordered to evacuate.
The following areas have also been ordered for evacuation or “Go” status and residents are asked not to try to gather belongings or protect their homes:
Sonterra 1
Sonterra 3
Enchanted Forest
The Village of Ruidoso’s Facebook page says the Complex Team will be arriving this afternoon to assume command of the fires.
There will also be “massive air attacks” and dozer lines are currently being cut, the Facebook page said.
All Village of Ruidoso employees are asked to stay where they are until they hear otherwise from their supervisor.
Those with questions can call the following numbers for the Emergency Operations Center (EOC):
575-937-7785
575-973-8977
The EOC was relocated to the County Courthouse in Carrizozo Monday evening.
Both Highway 48 and Highway 70 at Apache Summit are closed so the only route for evacuation is on Sudderth to Highway 70 and out to Roswell.
NM Highway 48 is also closed from Alpine Village/University to NM Highway 220.
Carrizozo High School located at 800 D Ave, Carrizozo, NM 88301 is open for evacuees. Motorists can use Hwy 380 through Hondo to access the school.
Lea County Fairgrounds is also available to anyone who is evacuating and has stables as well as RV hookups. Contact Fairgrounds Director Wyatt Duncan at 575-333-0252 for any questions.
Residents and visitors who want to voluntarily evacuate can seek shelter at Capitan High School.
The Ruidoso Convention Center is not taking any more evacuations and those who are there will shelter in place should the status at the Convention Center change, according to the Facebook page.
Those with pets can take them to the Humane Society of Lincoln County located at 25962 U.S. Highway 70 in Ruidoso.
For Mescalero Apache residents, an evacuation center is still available at the Mescalero Community Center Gymnasium.
For those who cannot go to Capitan because of the Highway 70 closures, a shelter has been set up at 52 University Blvd. in Roswell.
Livestock can be held at the Mescalero Rodeo Grounds. You can call (575) 464-9878 if you need help with hauling your livestock.
If you can get there safely, an evacuation center at the Inn of the Mountain Gods Convention Center is available for anyone, tribal or non-tribal.
Hot ash from the South Fork Fire has been falling in parts of Alto and along Airport Road.
The Otero County Electric Cooperative has been requested to shut power off in the area around Penn Scott Drive and Cow Camp due to wildfires in the area. It is unknown when service will be restored. Interactive outage maps can be accessed at www.ocec-inc.com.
The City of Alamogordo says it’s sending a team of firefighters to Ruidoso. Alamogordo Police have also mobilized to potentially assist with any traffic control needs.
Also, staff at the Alamogordo Civic Center has been placed on standby and is ready to open the facility as needed.
New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham said in a statement on Monday that her administration has been in “close contact” with state, tribal, and federal officials and they are deploying as “many resources as possible to protect people and property.”
This story will be updated when we receive more information.
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