Single Publication

Acres: 6,195
Cause: Under investigation
Containment: 0%
Start Date: April 12, 2022
Location: Gavilan Canyon within the Village of Ruidoso   
Fuels: Timber, brush, grasses
Structures burned: 207 primary structures, multiple outbuildings              
Personnel: 299                                                                                 
Fatalities: 2 citizens

Highlights: A Virtual Public Meeting will be held tonight at 6pm on Facebook. Questions can be submitted in advance by email or through Facebook messaging. Last night, evacuations were lifted for the Moon Mountain Area. Expect increased traffic as residents return to their homes.  Starting today, we will no longer provide an evening update in this format.  Any notable activity will be posted on Facebook and InciWeb. 

Operations: Yesterday’s warm weather and high winds tested control lines along the perimeter. Firefighters will continue to build and improve fire perimeter lines. Patrols are checking the fire’s edge for hotspots and any blowing embers. Mop up operations are occurring throughout the fire area to locate and cool pockets of heat.    

Evacuations: The following evacuations have been lifted for Moon Mountain Area: High Loop, Lupin, Starlight, Old Lincoln, Nogal Place etc. East of Hull: McBride, Snowcap, Timberline, Fawn Ridge etc. Evacuations remain in place for the following: Gavilan Canyon: From Highway 70 to Lower Eagle Creek; Homestead Acres/Lower Eagle Creek; Rancho Ruidoso Valley Estates, Deer Valley, Deer Park, and Alto East of Flute Player. The Ruidoso Convention Center is open to evacuees.

Safety: Please stay out of the fire area to allow crews safe access to the fire. Parts of the Village remain without electricity and gas. PNM, Otero Electric and Zia Natural Gas are working to restore power. Please watch for animals that have been released or escaped. Prepare yourself and your family with a go-bag. Visit ready.gov for more information on evacuation preparation.

Weather:  Today  – Mostly cloudy, temperatures mid-70s, humidity 7-10%. SW winds 6-15 mph, gusts to 35 mph.

Restrictions/Closures: Closures are in place at Gavilan Canyon from Meander to Highway 48 and Warrior Drive from Hull to Gavilan Canyon. Portions of Hull Road remain open. Please respect the restrictions and closures in place. Violations impede firefighter response and delay suppression activities.  Anyone driving in the area should slow down and turn on headlights for visibility

A Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) is in place: Wildfires are a NO Drone Zone. Flying recreational and media drones within a TFR is illegal and endangers aircraft working on the fire. Drones found in the fire area will result in fire aviation operations being suspended until the area is cleared. If you see drones in the fire area, please report it immediately to law enforcement and the Incident Management Team. If You Fly, We Can’t!

Fire Information: Public 505-356-2636   Media 505-445-8278 

InciWeb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8061/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/McBrideFire2022/

NM Fire Information: https://nmfireinfo.com/

Email: 2022.mcbride@firenet.gov