Single Publication

Southwest Area

Incident Management Team

TEAM 5 – Dave Gesser– INCIDENT COMMANDER

Evacuations lifted; Crews mop-up, secure perimeter and conduct structural assessments as weather allows

Daily Update, Monday, June 24, 2024

Fire Information Phone: 575-323-8378 or 575-323-8258 

Media Information Phone: 575-323-8053

Phone Line Hours: 8 am – 8 pm

Email: 2024.southfork@firenet.gov

Acres:  South Fork – 17,551; Salt – 7,816

Start Date: June 17, 2024

Location: South Fork – Ruidoso Area; Salt - 7 miles west of Mescalero, NM                                                  

Personnel: 1,002

Containment: South Fork – 37%; Salt – 7%

Fuels: mixed conifer, grass, pine/juniper                                    

Resources: The South Fork and Salt fires are currently staffed with 19 crews, 8 helicopters, 71 engines, 14 bulldozers, and 23 water tenders.

Highlights: Information regarding the South Fork and Salt fires, status of the surrounding communities, and other updates were provided on Sunday at the Community Meeting Facebook Live Stream. For those interested in accessing the recording, visit https://www.facebook.com/SWIMT5.

Fire Activity: Widespread precipitation caused localized flooding and limited firefighter access to areas across the South Fork and Salt fires on Sunday. Today, crews will focus on mop-up, clearing snags, hazard tree operations and securing the perimeter where conditions allow. Incident personnel will also continue structural assessments in neighborhoods and the fire area. 

While fire behavior has reduced to smoldering and creeping in heavy duff and dead/down fuels, fire activity and smoke can increase in interior pockets of unburned fuel as warmer weather moves into the region. Residents and others traveling within the fire area should continue taking extra precautions as emergency vehicles, engines and equipment continue to travel and work along roadways. 

Weather: The potential for scattered storms reduces slightly for Monday. Temperatures will be above normal with light winds. Scattered showers and thunderstorm potential will increase later in the week. After several days of rain, flash flooding and debris flows can occur faster and more abruptly, posing a safety concern for firefighters and the public.

Smoke: Smoke production will remain light to moderate on Monday. Additional details are available at https://outlooks.wildlandfiresmoke.net/outlook/430b2c05.

Evacuations: No evacuations are in place. Use www.lincolncountynm.gov and www.ruidoso-nm.gov/south-fork-fire for the latest information. More information available from the Lincoln County Emergency Operations Center at 575-258-6900. 

Tribal members who have been displaced outside of the Mescalero Apache Reservation due to the fires are strongly encouraged to contact the Tribe's Emergency Operations Center (EOC) to help you and your families get back to the reservation. If you're stranded out of town at other evacuation sites, please call the EOC at 575-464-9214 for more details.

Closures: A South Fork Fire Emergency Closure Order was issued on June 20, 2024, for national forest lands within the Smokey Bear Ranger District. The identified areas, and roads and trails therein, are closed to public access to allow firefighting personnel to work and through the fire area safely. More information is available at www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/lincoln/alerts-notices/?aid=88199. 

A Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) is in place over the fire area. Public/commercial drone flights are also prohibited within this area. It is illegal for the public to fly drones within the fire area, including around private residences, businesses or other areas. If you fly, we may have to ground our air resources. Visit https://www.tfr.faa.gov for more information.

More information:

Inciweb: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/nmmea-south-fork-and-salt

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SWIMT5 

Smoke Outlook: https://outlooks.wildlandfiresmoke.net/outlook/430b2c05

Lincoln County Government: www.lincolncountynm.gov

Mescalero Apache Tribe: https://mescaleroapachetribe.com 

Village of Ruidoso: www.ruidoso-nm.gov/south-fork-fire