Daily Update: Friday, June 28, 2024 - As More Areas Reopen, Caution is Advised

Fire Update

Jun 28

As the South Fork and Salt fires continue to be brought under control, we are seeing more areas in the Village of Ruidoso and surrounding regions reopen. However, we urge residents and visitors to remain cautious and patient, as emergency personnel and utility workers are still actively working to restore services and ensure safety. This update provides the latest information on fire containment, reentry protocols, and ongoing support efforts for those affected.

Contact Information

Mescalero Apache Tribe Emergency Operations Center: 575-464-9214 (8 am-12 am)
Village of Ruidoso and Lincoln County Emergency Operations Center: 575-258-6900 (7 am-10 pm)
Fire Information Phone: 575-323-8378 or 575-323-8258 (8 am-8 pm)
Media Information Phone: 575-323-8053 (8 am-8 pm)
Email: 2024.southfork@firenet.gov

Fire Statistics

Acres:
- South Fork: 17,569
- Salt: 7,939
Start Date: June 17, 2024
Location:
- South Fork: Ruidoso Area
- Salt: 7 miles west of Mescalero, NM
Personnel: 860
Containment:
- South Fork: 73%
- Salt: 71%
Fuels: Mixed conifer, grass, pine/juniper
Resources:
- 21 crews
- 4 helicopters
- 36 engines
- 5 bulldozers
- 11 water tenders

Highlights

Reentry As exclusion zones reopen, please remember that there are still firefighters, firefighting equipment, utility company workers, and vehicles working in the area. Their work is critical to restoring utilities and services, and conditions in the exclusion zones pose a safety risk to emergency personnel and the public. Please be patient and allow them to complete their work in Upper Canyon and Cedar Creek.

"NO ENTRY/EXCLUSION ZONES" remain in place in some areas of the village. For more information, visit Village of Ruidoso South Fork Fire Information or contact the Village of Ruidoso and Lincoln County Emergency Operations Centers.

Tribal Evacuation and Donation Sites Evacuation sites on the Mescalero Apache Reservation will be closing operations by Sunday, June 30, 2024. These sites include the Mescalero Community Center and the Inn of the Mountain Gods' convention center.

As of Friday, June 28, 2024, all donations and tribal distribution of donated items to persons/families affected by the fires will be at the Inn of the Mountain Gods' convention center from 8 AM - 6:30 PM daily.

Fire Activity The South Fork and Salt fires experienced limited fire activity as storms moved over the area on Thursday. With those storms, several lightning strikes occurred, causing one confirmed fire, which crews suppressed immediately after discovery. Firefighters will monitor for additional ignitions as wet fuels begin drying out through the day on Friday.

Weather Much of the fire area will continue a slight drying trend until isolated afternoon showers and thunderstorms return. Rain chances increase again on Saturday, with slow-moving storms capable of producing high rain rates and flash floods.

Smoke Smoke will continue to have the biggest impact during the late overnight and morning hours for areas near the fires. Additional details are available at Smoke Outlook.

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, 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 Lincoln National Forest Alerts and Notices.

A Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) is in place over the fire area. Public/commercial drone flights are also prohibited within this area. If you fly, we may have to ground our air resources. For more information, visit FAA TFR List.