Evacuations were lifted; Crews clean, secure the perimeter and perform structural assessments as weather permits.
Fire information telephone: 575-323-8378 or 575-323-8258
Media information telephone: 575-323-8053
Telephone line hours: 8 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Email: 2024.southfork@firenet.gov
Hectares: South Fork – 17,551; Salt – 7,816
Start date: June 17, 2024
Location: South Fork – Ruidoso Area, Salt – 7 miles west of Mescalero, NM
Staff: 1,002
Containment: South Fork – 37%; Salt – 7%
Fuels: mix of conifers, grass, pine/juniper
Resources: The South Fork and Salt fires currently have 19 crews, 8 helicopters, 71 engines, 14 excavators and 23 tankers.
Reflexes: Information about the South Fork and Salt fires, the status of surrounding communities and other updates was provided Sunday on the Facebook livestream of the community meeting. For those interested in accessing the recording, visit https://www.facebook.com/SWIMT5.
Fire activity: Widespread rainfall caused localized flooding and limited firefighter access to areas along the South Fork and Salt fires on Sunday. Today, crews will focus on mopping up, clearing obstacles, conducting hazardous tree operations, and securing the perimeter where conditions allow. Incident personnel will also continue structural assessments in the neighborhoods and fire area.
While fire behavior has been reduced to burning and creeping on heavy unburned and dead fuels, fire activity and smoke may increase in interior pockets of unburned fuel as warmer weather moves toward the region. Residents and others traveling within the fire area should continue to take extra precautions as emergency vehicles, engines and equipment continue to travel and work along roadways.
Climate: The potential for scattered storms reduces slightly for Monday. Temperatures will be above normal with light winds. Scattered showers and the potential for thunderstorms will increase later in the week. After several days of rain, flash flooding and debris flows can occur more quickly and abruptly, posing a safety concern to firefighters and the public.
Smoke: Smoke production will remain light to moderate on Monday. Additional details are available at https://outlooks.wildlandfiresmoke.net/outlook/430b2c05.
Evacuations: No evacuations have been carried out. Wear www.lincolncountynm.gov and www.ruidoso-nm.gov/south-fork-fire for the latest information. More information is available at the Lincoln County Emergency Operations Center at 575-258-6900.
Tribal members who have been displaced off the Mescalero Apache Reservation due to the fires are strongly encouraged to contact the Tribe’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) to assist you and your families in returning to the reservation. If you find yourself stranded outside the city at other evacuation sites, call the EOC at 575-464-9214 for more details.
Closures: On June 20, 2024, a South Fork Fire Emergency Closure Order was issued for National Forest lands within the Smokey Bear Ranger District. The identified areas, as well as the roads and trails in them, are closed to public access to allow firefighting personnel to work and traverse the fire area safely. More information is available at www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/lincoln/alerts-notices/?aid=88199.
There is a temporary flight restriction (TFR) over the fire area. Public/commercial drone flights are also prohibited within this area. It is illegal for the public to fly drones within the fire area, including around private residences, businesses or other areas. If it flies, we may have to ground our air assets. Visit https://www.tfr.faa.gov for more information.
More information:
Inciweb: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/nmmea-south-fork-and-salt
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SWIMT5
Smoke perspective: https://outlooks.wildlandfiresmoke.net/outlook/430b2c05
Lincoln County Government: www.lincolncountynm.gov
Mescalero Apache Tribe: https://mescaleroapachetribe.com
Ruidoso Town: www.ruidoso-nm.gov/south-fork-fire
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