Two wildfires that started Monday in Southern New Mexico and forced thousands to evacuate were still burning out of control Tuesday as firefighters struggled to contain the blaze, authorities said. The fire has burned more than 18,000 acres.
The larger fire, known as the South Fork fire, was discovered around 9 a.m. Monday in the Mescalero Apache tribal area and grew rapidly, showing “fire behavior,” fire officials said. extremely serious fire”.
People were evacuated from the village of Ruidoso and the surrounding area on Tuesday.
“Please do not try to collect your belongings or defend your home – go now!” The village of Ruidoso advised its residents.
An “escalating” fire, the South Fork fire spread from the Mescalero Apache Reservation to Forest Service land and private land and affected 500 structures. It covered about 13,000 acres as of Tuesday morning.
The second fire, called the Salt Fire, was discovered at 2 p.m. on Monday and remained confined to tribal lands in mostly inaccessible mountain terrain on Tuesday, covering nearly 5,000 English Model.
By Tuesday afternoon, residents of Ruidoso Downs, near the village of Ruidoso, were urged to evacuate immediately because the salt fire was “running” toward the city, according to Ruidoso government’s social media post.
Both fires were listed as 0% contained as of midday Tuesday and the cause of the fires remained under investigation.
George Ducker, communications coordinator for the New Mexico Division of Forestry, said that Ruidoso is in a “rural area” and people will evacuate with livestock.
Evacuees are heading east to Roswell, NM. Several roads in other directions were closed because of the fire.
The Red Cross, which opened four shelters in the state to help people fleeing the fires, said as of Monday evening it had assisted 270 residents.
On Tuesday, Michelle Lujan Grisham, the governor of New Mexico, declared a state of emergency in Lincoln County and the Mescalero Apache Reservation because of the fires. The declaration authorizes “additional funding and resources to manage this crisis,” she said. said in a social media post.
In a statement, the governor called “Residents of Ruidoso and surrounding areas should remain calm and follow official guidance to help minimize the risk.”
According to New Mexico Fire Information, a website run by federal and state agencies, the fires are exacerbated by wind and low humidity..
Federal, tribal, state and local agencies are in “an all-hands-on-deck situation,” Mr. Ducker said. “Fire crews are working as quickly and safely as possible, focusing on protecting the structure and trying to position bulldozer lines ahead of the fire front,” he said. A bulldozer line is a fire line laid by a bulldozer.
Explaining the rapid outbreak of the fire from Monday to Tuesday, authorities said the fires were characterized by “long-range spotting”, when embers moved with the wind and could ignite new fires, “and intense heat with a dominating plume,” as the flames reached very high heights. The fire reached a height of “hundreds of feet,” Mr. Ducker said. “The temperature inside was very, very hot.”
Southern New Mexico is one of the most drought-stricken regions in the country. Mr. Ducker said this area has been suffering from drought for ten years. “This is climate change. It’s hot and dry. There is a possibility of some moisture coming on Wednesday, but I’m not holding my breath,” he said.
Aimee Ortiz contributed reporting.
