Natural Disaster
Raging Wildfire in New Mexico Forces Residents to Evacuate
Authorities: "GO NOW: Do not pause to collect belongings or safeguard your property. Evacuate immediately."
RUIDOSO, N.M. — The tranquil village of Ruidoso, nestled in the southern New Mexico landscape, was thrust into chaos on Monday evening as a rapidly advancing wildfire prompted authorities to issue an urgent evacuation order. The directive, disseminated via the village's website and social media platforms around 7 p.m., left the approximately 7,000 residents with no time to spare: "GO NOW: Do not pause to collect belongings or safeguard your property. Evacuate immediately."
The wildfire, known as the South Fork Fire, ignited earlier that day on the Mescalero Apache Reservation and quickly spread, fueled by extremely dry conditions and high temperatures. By nightfall, the blaze had expanded to cover over 8.2 square miles, with no containment in sight. The fire's rapid growth and the immediate threat it posed to life and property necessitated the swift evacuation order.
Public Service Company of New Mexico (PSCoNM) responded to the escalating situation by shutting off electricity to parts of Ruidoso, affecting around 2,000 homes and businesses. Despite the power outage, residents were urged to evacuate without delay. The glow from the fire was visible from a webcam in the downtown area, where the lights remained on, casting an eerie contrast against the encroaching flames.
The urgency of the situation was underscored by reports of falling hot ash in the neighboring community of Alto, prompting officials to warn residents to call 911 if they spotted any active flames. The New Mexico State Police also reported phone outages that could potentially hinder emergency responses, adding another layer of complexity to the already dire circumstances.
The South Fork Fire's origin on the Mescalero Apache Reservation led the tribal president to declare a state of emergency. The fire was burning on both tribal and U.S. Forest Service land, effectively encircling Ruidoso. Another fire, named the Salt Fire, was also raging on the reservation, covering over 4.3 square miles with no containment as of Monday night.
Residents shared harrowing accounts of their sudden evacuation. Mary Lou Minic, a Ruidoso resident, recounted to KOB-TV how her family was preparing to sit down for a meal when the alert came through: "We were getting ready to sit down to a meal and the alert came on: evacuate now, don't take anything or plan to pack anything, just evacuate." Minic and her family managed to leave within minutes, a testament to the speed and severity of the situation.
The village of Ruidoso, located about 75 miles west of Roswell, saw several evacuation centers established to accommodate those displaced by the wildfire. Roswell officials made arrangements for individuals with RVs and large animals, and efforts were underway to accommodate as many patients as possible from the Ruidoso hospital in their facilities.
An air quality alert was issued for Ruidoso and its surrounding areas due to the hazardous smoke conditions. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) had previously designated Ruidoso as a high-risk area due to the dense forests surrounding it, which could serve as fuel for wildfires and potentially lead to catastrophic damage.
New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham declared a state of emergency, emphasizing the coordinated efforts between state, tribal, and federal officials to deploy resources. "The safety of the public is our utmost concern, and we do not make this decision lightly. We are working in unison with our first responders to assist the affected communities," the governor stated.
As of Monday evening, few viable escape routes remained open for Ruidoso residents. Both Highway 48 and Highway 70 at Apache Summit were closed due to the South Fork Fire, leaving only Sudderth to Highway 70 and out to Roswell as an option for evacuation. The village's incident information website reported the fire as "an active fire moving fast," with multiple structures at risk and some already lost.
The fires' explosive growth has been fueled by extremely dry air and high temperatures, prompting the Storm Prediction Center to issue an elevated fire risk warning across most of New Mexico. The conditions have created a perfect storm for wildfires, which scientists warn will become increasingly common due to climate change and pervasive drought conditions.
As the situation continues to develop, the resilience and cooperation of the affected communities remain crucial. The village of Ruidoso, its residents, and the surrounding areas face a challenging road ahead as they contend with the immediate threat of the wildfires and the long-term recovery efforts that will follow.