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‘Extreme’ wildfire behavior forces evacuation of entire New Mexico town

By
Social Links for Scott Sistek, FOX Weather
Published June 18, 2024, 11:43 p.m. ET

Residents of an entire New Mexico town were told to flee Monday evening after a wildfire exploded in size and spread, impacting hundreds of structures and prompting a state of emergency.

The blaze, dubbed the South Fork Fire, was discovered around 9 a.m. Monday on tribal and government lands surrounding the village of Ruidoso in south-central New Mexico.

It quickly grew to thousands of acres during the afternoon as gusty winds reaching 20-30 mph and low humidity fueled the flames.

“Fire growth has been rapid with extreme fire behavior,” officials with the New Mexico Forestry Division said. “An estimated 500 structures have been impacted by this fire.”

Authorities ordered about 7,000 residents to evacuate.

The fire began encroaching on Ruidoso late Monday evening, prompting officials to urge immediate evacuation of the entire village and surrounding area.

“Please do not try to gather belongings or protect your home,” village officials urged on social media. “GO NOW.”

So far, there are no reports of any injuries.

Smoke plumes from the South Fork Fire rise above the tree line as the fire progresses from the Mescalero Apache Indian Reservation to the Lincoln National Forest
Smoke plumes from the South Fork Fire rise above the tree line as the fire progresses from the Mescalero Apache Indian Reservation to the Lincoln National Forest. REUTERS

Emergency officials set up shelters in nearby Roswell and offered state fairgrounds space to house evacuated livestock.

As of Tuesday evening, the wildfire has so far blackened 15,261 acres, according to city officials. And, it is 0% contained.

A burned car stands in front of a ruined building as the South Fork Fire burned most of the structures in Cedar Creek.
A burned car stands in front of a ruined building as the South Fork Fire burned most of the structures in Cedar Creek. REUTERS
Smoke plumes from the South Fork Fire rise above the tree line as the fire progresses from the Mescalero Apache Indian Reservation to the Lincoln National Forest
Smoke plumes from the South Fork Fire rise above the tree line as the fire progresses from the Mescalero Apache Indian Reservation to the Lincoln National Forest. REUTERS

“Crews worked together (Monday) night to stop the fire’s spread and providing structure protection where they could,” fire officials said Tuesday morning. “Currently, fire behavior is creeping, but a concern (Tuesday) is increased winds that could push the fire further to the east and the northeast.”

New Mexico Gov. Michelle Luan Grisham declared a state of emergency, freeing up additional state resources to help those fighting and affected by the fire.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

A USDA Forest Service hotshot firefighter returns from battling the blaze and assisting with evacuations caused by the South Fork Fire in Ruidoso, New Mexico
A USDA Forest Service hotshot firefighter returns from battling the blaze and assisting with evacuations caused by the South Fork Fire in Ruidoso, New Mexico. REUTERS

A second wildfire burning nearby on the Mescalero Reservation, dubbed the Salt Fire, reached 5,500 acres on Tuesday evening and also forced evacuations of residents in the area. 

NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center said elevated wildfire weather conditions will linger through the day Tuesday across much of central New Mexico with dry southwesterly flow and humidity readings in the teens.