Containment grows on South Fork Fire, Salt Fire near Ruidoso, New Mexico: recap
The wildfires near Ruidoso are still burning. However, residents will begin returning to Ruidoso at 8 a.m. Monday, June 24.
Two deaths have been reported and over 23,000 structures have been affected. The fires started Monday, June 17, and displaced about 8,000 people.
The South Fork Fire is burning on Mescalero Tribal, U.S. Forest Service land and areas around Ruidoso. The Salt Fire is also active on the Mescalero Reservation.
Horse racing resumes at Ruidoso Downs race track
Horse racing returns to Ruidoso Downs Race Track and Casino this weekend, with events on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Last weekend's races were canceled, prompting the evacuation of many horses and trainers. However, with improved conditions, they returned to the racetrack earlier this week.
The weekend's schedule includes trials for the Rainbow Futurity on Friday and Saturday, featuring 2-year-old quarter horses. On Sunday, the trials for the Rainbow Oaks and Rainbow Derby will feature 3-year-old quarter horses. Post time is set for 11 a.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 12:30 p.m. on Sunday.
- Felix Chavez
Containment rising as crews search for missing residents
The South Fork and Salt fires are well on their way to being eliminated. An update Wednesday morning showed that the South Fork fire is now at 64% containment and the Salt fire is now at 55% containment. Still, search and rescue crews are combing through areas around Ruidoso that were hardest hit by the fires. As many as 29 residents were unaccounted for Sunday, Ruidoso Mayor Lynn Crawford told reporters, but that number is now down to eight.
South Fork Fire: 17,569 acres; containment: 64%
Salt Fire: 7,939 acres; containment: 55%
- Adam Powell
Containment grows on South Fork Fire, Salt Fire
Fire containment efforts on the South Fork Fire and Salt Fire have made significant strides as firefighting crews intensify efforts against residual heat sources, officials said.
Despite heavy fuels still smoldering, the perimeter's growth potential remains minimal due to decreased fire activity. Crews remain vigilant in monitoring and addressing any remaining hotspots. Authorities continue to urge caution in affected areas as containment efforts continue.
South Fork Fire: 17,556 acres; containment: 54%
Salt Fire: 7,947 acres; containment: 38%
Personnel: 1,006
No evacuations are currently in place. Tribal members displaced from the Mescalero Apache Reservation are encouraged to contact the Tribe's Emergency Operations Center at 575-464-9214 for assistance.
Numbers provided by village of Ruidoso
- Aaron Bedoya
USPS reopens post offices after fire-related closures
The United States Postal Service has announced the reopening of several post offices in New Mexico, which were temporarily closed due to the South Fork and Salt fires. Full operations have resumed at the following locations:
Alto Post Office
Address: 100 Sun Valley Road, Alto, New Mexico 88312
Hours: Monday-Friday: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday: 8 a.m. to 10 a.m.
Hollywood Post Office
Address: 25959 US Highway 70, Ruidoso, New Mexico 88345
Hours: Monday-Friday: 8 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Ruidoso Post Office
Address: 1090 Mechem Drive, Ruidoso, New Mexico 88345
Hours: Monday-Friday: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Saturday: 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Ruidoso Downs Post Office
Address: 26336 US Highway 70, Ruidoso Downs, NM 88346
Hours: Monday-Friday: 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday: 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Residents in these areas can now access full postal services at the post offices during the specified hours.
- Aaron Bedoya
Fire containment update
South Fork Fire: 17,551 acres; containment: 37%
Salt Fire: 7,816 acres; containment: 7%
Numbers provided by village of Ruidoso
- Aaron Bedoya
Key roads blocked for search and rescue
Residents are returning to Ruidoso after fires scorched thousands of acres last week, but only areas beyond the burn zone are opened.
Ruidoso police and other agencies are maintaining roadblocks at a number of key locations throughout the city, specifically around Eagle Creek, Cedar Creek and Hwy. 48.
The roads remain closed, officials said, as search-and-rescue teams continue combing the area Residents whose houses were damaged or destroyed may still be days or even weeks away from discovering what’s left of their homes.
Les Feldser, whose home in Alpine was completely destroyed, was rebuffed by a Hobbs police roadblock while trying to go and see what was left of his home.
“I’ve got nothing left but what’s on my back and what’s in my wallet,” he said, noting that even his phone was gone.
- El Paso Times staff
Ruidoso exclusion zones remain off-limits
Residents of the Ruidoso Mountain community are advised to be aware that much of the wildfire's path includes "no entry/exclusion zones" that will remain inaccessible.
Authorities say these areas are classified as crime scenes, and search and rescue crews are using dogs to search them.
- El Paso Times staff
Update on Ruidoso fire
South Fork Fire: 17,551 acres; containment: 37%
Salt Fire: 7,775 acres; containment: 7%
Personnel: Over 1,100
Numbers provided by vllage of Ruidoso
- Aaron Bedoya
What is wildfire containment?
“Wildfire containment is the status of a wildfire suppression action signifying that a control line has been completed around the fire, and any associated spot fires, which can reasonably be expected to stop the fires spread,” according to the Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture.
- El Paso Times staff
New Mexico fire map
View fires across New Mexico on the map below.
Having trouble viewing the map? Click here.
- Aaron Bedoya
Ruidoso residents set to return Monday
With containment numbers for both fires on the rise, Village of Ruidoso officials said Saturday that residents would be allowed to return at 8 a.m. Monday, June 24.
Only local, full-time residents will be allowed to return to Ruidoso at this time, and they are being asked to return with at least a week's worth of food and drinking water as grocery stores are still not operating at full capacity.
In many cases, residents will be returning to homes without electricity, gas or water.
-Adam Powell
FBI seeks tips on Ruidoso fires, offers $10,000 reward
A $10,000 reward is being offered by the FBI to anyone who can provide information leading to the arrests and convictions of the person or people responsible for starting the New Mexico wildfires.
The FBI announcement of the reward Saturday, June 22, is the first time law enforcement officials have said a person or a group of people could be responsible for starting the deadly fires.
- Aaron Martinez
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Ruidoso fire update: Residents can return amid fire containment progress
