Single Publication

Working on suppression repair for the Blue 2 Fire        

Daily Update: June 4, 2024

Acres: 7,495                                                                                                       Start Date: May 16, 2024 

Location: 8 miles North of Ruidoso, White Mountain Wilderness Area                           Cause: Lightning

Personnel: 489                                                                                                     Fuels: Timber/Grass/Brush

Containment: 69%                                                                                                                          

Resources: 8 crews | 14 engines | 6 helicopters | 3 bulldozers | 7 Water Tenders

Highlights: A Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) Team is arriving today and will begin their assessment for emergency stabilization of soil. The objective of the BAER program is to determine the need for and to prescribe and implement emergency treatments on federal lands to minimize threats to life or property resulting from the effects of a fire or to stabilize and prevent unacceptable degradation to natural and cultural resources.

Operations: Containment is progressively increasing with firefighters working hard at mopping up the remaining uncontained areas of the fire perimeter. Suppression repair work has started in the surrounding areas of the fire where heavy equipment and fire crews put in contingency lines. Some large fuels may continue to smolder, but perimeter growth is not expected. Fire managers are working together with resource advisors, the BAER team and the City of Ruidoso. The evacuation levels have been reduced but the areas are still being monitored by law enforcement to make sure that only fire personnel and residents are able to be in the area.

Weather: Low relative humidity was experienced again today, coupled with westerly winds. The hot and windy pattern is forecast to stay throughout Wednesday. Northwest winds will be experienced today, which will bring in more moisture. Thursday is predicted to bring higher humidity and thunderstorms around the fire area.

Smoke: Minimal smoke was produced by the fire. Surrounding communities will see good air. Transported smoke from other active fires in upwind states or Mexico, may create some hazy skies on occasion. The interactive smoke map can still be found at fire.airnow.gov/

Closures: In the interest of public safety, camping and other recreation activities in the Bonito Lake Area are still restricted due to ongoing firefighting activities. The Forest closure order will continue to remain in effect for the White Mountain Wilderness Area. 

Evacuations: The Village of Capitan, Enchanted Forest, and Alto communities are no longer in the “Ready” status. The Cora Dutton, Ranchman’s Camp, Sun Valley, and Sierra Vista communities are now in a “Ready” status. The Villa Madonna, Bonito Lake, Loma Grande, and Nogal Canyon communities are now in a “Set” status, and all “Go” Evacuation notices have been lifted. For an interactive evacuation map go to tinyurl.com/Blue2Evacs

Safety: A Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) is in place over the area, which includes uncrewed aircraft systems or drones. Find the TFR at tfr.faa.gov/tfr_map_ims/html/

June 4 Blue 2 Fire Evacuation Map

Tue, 06/04/2024 - 09:39

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June 4 Blue 2 Fire Evacuation Map