Two wildfires that started in Southern New Mexico on Monday forced the evacuation of thousands of residents and continued to burn out of control on Tuesday. The larger fire, known as the South Fork fire, was first discovered in the Mescalero Apache Tribal area and quickly grew, exhibiting extreme fire behavior. The village of Ruidoso and surrounding areas were evacuated as the fire spread to Forest Service and private land, impacting 500 structures and covering roughly 13,000 acres. A second fire, called the Salt Fire, was also burning on tribal land in inaccessible mountain terrain, covering nearly 5,000 acres. Both fires were listed as zero percent contained as of midday Tuesday, and the causes were still under investigation.
Evacuees from Ruidoso were advised to leave immediately and not attempt to gather belongings or protect their homes. They were relocating east to Roswell, N.M., as some roads were closed due to the fires. The blazes were exacerbated by wind and low humidity conditions in the region, with the weather on Tuesday expected to be sunny with high temperatures and southwest winds. Various federal, tribal, state, and local departments were working together to combat the fires, with a focus on protecting structures and creating dozer lines in advance of the fire front.
The rapid growth of the fires was attributed to factors such as long-range spotting, where embers are carried by the wind and ignite new fires, and intense heat with plume domination, causing flames to reach high heights. Flames were reportedly reaching hundreds of feet, with the interior of the fires generating extreme heat. Southern New Mexico has been experiencing severe drought conditions for the past decade, contributing to the dry and hot climate that has fueled the wildfires. Officials pointed to climate change as a significant factor in the situation, with little relief expected from potential moisture coming on Wednesday.
George Ducker, the communications coordinator of the New Mexico Forestry Division, emphasized the urgency of the situation and the efforts being made by fire crews to contain the blazes. Evacuees from the affected areas were being urged to prioritize their safety and evacuate promptly. The authorities were working tirelessly to combat the fires and protect structures, using various resources to establish containment lines and prevent further spread of the flames. Despite the challenging conditions and the large areas affected by the wildfires, efforts were ongoing to bring the situation under control and prevent additional damage to properties and livelihoods in Southern New Mexico.
