Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham on Friday, June 18, 2021, confirmed New Mexico will retire its color-coded, county-by-county system and all COVID-19 health restrictions on commercial and day-to-day activity on July 1, allowing for the thousands of vaccinations administered this week as part of a statewide public health push to take full effect.

On June 6, 2021 at 1:36 PM, Ruidoso Police dispatch received a call of a shooting that had occurred in the 25000 block of US HWY 70 at a business. Officers arrived and found the victim, a 43-year-old male, at an adjacent business and immediately provided medical care until Emergency Services arrived.

The Ball Field Fire started at 11:30 a.m on Tuesday, June 8 off of Ski Run Road and Highway 48 above the ball fields in the Village of Ruidoso. Ruidoso Fire Department (RFD) kept 6 firefighters on the Ball Field Fire throughout the night. Those crews worked on keeping the fire within the containment lines. The wind was an issue blowing embers and causing some slop-over, however, everything is still burning on the interior of the containment lines at this time. RFD will have 10 crew members working today to mop up and clean up the line around it. The fire is 50% contained and is holding at 25 acres.

The Ball Field Fire started at 11:30 a.m on Tuesday, June 8 off of Ski Run Road and Highway 48 above the ball fields in the Village of Ruidoso. The fire is currently 25% contained and has burned 25 acres. The cause of the fire is under investigation. All county and volunteer crews have been released from the scene. Crews from the Ruidoso Fire Department will remain on-scene throughout the night. The fire is currently 25% contained and is estimated to be at 25 acres. No cause has been determined, and the fire is still under investigation. Highway 48 has reopened in both directions.

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, the New Mexico Department of Health and the New Mexico Lottery on Tuesday announced New Mexico’s Vax 2 the Max Sweepstakes, a statewide vaccination incentive program that will make available $10 million in total prize money to New Mexicans who receive their COVID-19 vaccinations, among other prizes and awards throughout the summer. Drawings will begin mid-June with $1M awarded weekly for five weeks (four $250,000 regional winners) and then, in early August, a statewide $5M grand prize.

With southern NM being drier than we've seen in years, the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners has issued a Declaration of Fire Danger Emergency (Resolution 2020-44) in accordance with Lincoln County Ordinance 2017-03 and Lincoln National Forest Stage 1 Fire Restrictions. The emergency declaration includes a ban on all burning of open flames, fires, campfires (except in official designated areas), trash, shrubbery, or other material of any kind except by permit. Help keep our forest, firefighters, and local communities safe. Dry conditions are expected to continue through June. These fire restrictions help prevent wildfires so you can continue to enjoy the forest for many years to come.

Applications are now being accepted for Local Economic Development Act (LEDA) Recovery Grants of up to $100,000 to support New Mexico small businesses that are experiencing financial hardship due to the pandemic.

Beginning May 24 at 8:00 a.m., the Village of Ruidoso will be repairing a sewer line on Gavilan Canyon Road. The road and lane closures will continue until the work has been completed. Approach the area with caution, at a very slow speed, and watch for employees directing traffic.

Beginning May 18 at 8:00 a.m., the Village of Ruidoso will be repairing a sewer line on Burro Lane which will be closed. The 2800 block of Sudderth Drive will have one lane closed on the outside eastbound side of Burro Lane. The road and lane closures will continue through May 20 or until the work has been completed.

If you are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, you can resume activities that you did before the pandemic without wearing a mask or staying 6 feet apart, except where required by federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial laws, including local business and workplace guidance. If you haven't received a COVID-19 vaccine, find vaccines near you at www.vaccineNM.org and get your shot! Learn more: https://bit.ly/3btJaFU

On Sunday, May 9th, the Three Rivers Fire transferred to a Type-4 interagency organization due to continued fire suppression success, which has resulted in limited fire activity. The remaining Three Rivers firefighting crews continue to work on extinguishing any hotspots they discover and monitoring the fire area in case the fire does try to progress. The fire perimeter changed slightly due to a small spot fire that had been burning and smoldering for days and eventually burned together with the main fire. This resulted in a slight increase in the overall acreage burned.

This will be the final update for the Three Rivers Fire. If you have fire questions, please contact the Smokey Bear Ranger District at (575) 257-4095. Acres: 7,033 acres Containment: 40%. Yesterday crews completed control lines along the west side of the fire coming down from the Big Bear area. Isolated smoke from a smoldering log was seen yesterday by firefighters who flew a reconnaissance mission in a helicopter, however, the perimeter of the fire has not grown for over a week.

A closure order has been issued for the White Mountains Wilderness and Three Rivers Campground and Trailhead. The purpose of the Order is to protect public health and safety during the Three Rivers Fire. See the links below for additional information on Fire Restrictions, Closures, and maps.

The Village of Ruidoso has rescinded a wastewater release advisory that was issued on Tuesday in the Carrizo Canyon Creek.

The Three Rivers Fire, was transferred to a Type-3 interagency organization after limited fire activity was observed for seven days. Firefighting crews remain assigned to the Three Rivers Fire. They continue to work each day, extinguishing any hotspots they discover and monitoring the fire area in case the fire does try to progress. However, the perimeter of the fire has not grown for several days.

Acres: 7,033 acres. Containment: 30%. Crews continue to focus on the northern, western, and southern parts of the fire. Considerable progress was made yesterday increasing and strengthening control lines along the perimeter of the fire, particularly on the north/northeast side of the fire. The eastern side of the fire has shown little to no activity over the past few days thanks in part to the rain and snow received last week and also the limited fuel available to burn after the fire entered the Little Bear Fire scar.

The Village of Ruidoso has issued a wastewater release advisory for the Carrizo Canyon area. The advisory was issued after raw sewage overflowed into the Carrizo Canyon Creek at approximately 12:15 PM. The cause is currently under investigation.

Fire Update: Moderate winds and precipitation both tested the fire and aided firefighters once again yesterday. There was no fire growth and remains at 7,020 acres with 23% containment.

Acres: 7,119. Containment: 23%. Fire Update: Strong wind gusts yesterday tested the fire lines constructed by fire crews over the past several days. Fire lines withstood the test, and significant progress continues to be made in containing the Three Rivers Fire. Please be advised that ALL National Forest System lands, roads, and trails within the exterior boundaries of the White Mountain Wilderness of the Lincoln National Forest, as depicted on the attached map, are part of a RESTRICTED AREA.

Acres: 7,119. Containment: 19%. Fire Update: A Red Flag Warning has been issued by the National Weather Service for today. This means warm temperatures, very low humidity, and stronger winds will combine to increase fire danger risk. Multiple lingering fires inside the perimeter continue to burn. Additional smoke is predicted, and with the southwest winds, the public may see and smell smoke, especially in the northeast area of Ruidoso. Firefighters are prepared for this increase in fire activity. Please be advised that ALL National Forest System lands, roads, and trails within the exterior boundaries of the White Mountain Wilderness of the Lincoln National Forest, as depicted on the attached map, are part of a RESTRICTED AREA.