Scattered storms cause severe flash flooding Mescalero Apache Tribe Emergency Operations Center: 575-464-9214 (8am-6pm) Village of Ruidoso and Lincoln County Emergency Operations Center: 575-258-6900 (7am-10pm) Fire Information Phone:575-323-8378 or 575-323-8258 (8am-8pm) Media Information Phone: 575-323-8053 (8am-8pm) Email: 2024.southfork@firenet.gov Acres: South Fork – 17,569; Salt – 7,939 Start Date: June 17, 2024 Location: South Fork – […]
Continue readingFINAL UPDATE on OSHA Fire within Sandia Mountain Wilderness
Sandia Ranger District – Sandoval County – New Mexico ALBUQUERQUE, NM, June 29, 2024– Heli-rappel crew has suppressed the fire caused by a Thursday evening lightning strike named the OSHA Fire within the Sandia Mountain Wilderness on the Sandia Ranger District of the Cibola National Forest & National Grasslands. On Friday, Cibola NF&NGs fire management […]
Continue readingSouth Fork and Salt Fire Update 6/29
All zones now open to residents; Crews remain vigilant in detecting hot spots Mescalero Apache Tribe Emergency Operations Center: 575-464-9214 (8am-12am) Village of Ruidoso and Lincoln County Emergency Operations Center: 575-258-6900 (7am-10pm) Fire Information Phone:575-323-8378 or 575-323-8258 (8am-8pm) Media Information Phone: 575-323-8053 (8am-8pm) Email: 2024.southfork@firenet.gov Acres: South Fork – 17,569; Salt – 7,939 Start Date: […]
Continue readingFire Resources Respond to Lightning Fire Start in Sandia Mountain Wilderness
Cibola National Forest & National Grasslands – Sandia Ranger District – Sandoval County – New Mexico ALBUQUERQUE, NM, June 28, 2024 – Fire crews are responding to a lightning fire start within the Sandia Mountain Wilderness on the Sandia Ranger District of the Cibola National Forest & National Grasslands. The fire was first reported yesterday […]
Continue readingSouth Fork and Salt Fire Update, 6/28
As more areas reopen, caution is advised Mescalero Apache Tribe Emergency Operations Center: 575-464-9214 (8am-12am) Village of Ruidoso and Lincoln County Emergency Operations Center: 575-258-6900 (7am-10pm) Fire Information Phone:575-323-8378 or 575-323-8258 (8am-8pm) Media Information Phone: 575-323-8053 (8am-8pm) Email: 2024.southfork@firenet.gov Acres: South Fork – 17,569; Salt – 7,939 Start Date: June 17, 2024 Location: South Fork […]
Continue readingSouth Fork and Salt Fire Update 6/27
Ground efforts hindered by severe weather conditions Mescalero Apache Tribe Emergency Operations Center: 575-464-9214 Village of Ruidoso and Lincoln County Emergency Operations Center: 575-258-6900 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 – 17,569; Salt – 7,939 Start Date: June 17, […]
Continue readingCibola Districts lower Fire Danger Ratings
Cibola National Forest & National Grasslands The fire danger rating for four districts on the Cibola National Forest & Grasslands have been lowered from HIGH to Moderate following recent rain activity and current conditions within these district locations. Black Kettle Ranger District: ModerateKiowa and Rita Blanca Ranger District: ModerateMagdalena Ranger District: Moderate (Rating lowered)Mount Taylor […]
Continue readingSouth Fork and Salt Fire Update 6/26
Containment increases and suppression repair work begins Mescalero Apache Tribe Emergency Operations Center: 575-464-9214 Village of Ruidoso and Lincoln County Emergency Operations Center: 575-258-6900 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 – 17,569; Salt – 7,939 Start Date: June […]
Continue readingEncerrita Fire command transferred back to local unit due to decreased fire activity
El Malpais National Monument News Release For Immediate Release: June 25, 2024 Contact: El Malpais National Monument Visitor Center, 505-876-2783 Encerrita Fire command transferred back to local unit due to decreased fire activity GRANTS, NM — The Encerrita Fire again had very little activity on Monday as the area again received additional rainfall. The fire […]
Continue readingSouth Fork and Salt Fire Update 6/25
Containment increases on the South Fork and Salt fires Mescalero Apache Tribe Emergency Operations Center: 575-464-9214 Village of Ruidoso Emergency Operations Center: 575-464-9214 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 – 17,556; Salt – 7,947 Start Date: June 17, 2024 Location: […]
Continue readingNew lightning start on Glenwood Ranger District
SILVER CITY, NM, June 24, 2024 – A lightning fire was detected this afternoon on the Glenwood Ranger District of the Gila National Forest. The Frisco Fire is burning in rugged, steep, inaccessible terrain approximately 2.5 miles northwest of Glenwood Ranger District office on the west side of the San Francisco River. A confine and […]
Continue readingJune 24 Encerrita Fire Update, 10:00 a.m.
The Encerrita fire is 2,496 acres, and 0% contained. The fire area received more precipitation this weekend which kept fire activity at a minimum. On Sunday, the helicopter assigned to the incident flew the fire’s perimeter and observed minimal smoke and fire behavior. Firefighters continued line construction on the north and west sides of the […]
Continue readingSouth Fork and Salt Fire Update 6/24/24
Evacuations lifted; Crews mop-up, secure perimeter and conduct structural assessments as weather allows 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 […]
Continue readingFirefighters on the Encerrita Fire aided by wet weather
The 2,496 acres, 0% contained, Encerrita Fire has received a notable amount of precipitation over the past several days, with more precipitation in the forecast over the coming week. The previously issued “Ready” evacuation notice for residents north of the fire was rescinded on Saturday, June 22nd. The welcomed precipitation has significantly decreased fire […]
Continue readingSouth Fork and Salt Fire Update 6/23/24
Community meeting tonight; Fire suppression is ongoing, hazards still present Public Information Line:575-323-8258 or 575-323-8378 Media Information Line: 575-323-8053 Phone Line Hours: 8 am – 8 pm Email: 2024.southfork@firenet.gov Acres: South Fork – 17,551; Salt – 7,775 Start Date: June 17, 2024 Location: South Fork – Ruidoso Area, Salt – 7 mile west of Mescalero, […]
Continue readingEncerrita Fire area receives significant precipitation
El Malpais National Monument received significant precipitation yesterday with approximately 0.5” of rain falling in the area of the Encerrita Fire. Flooding was reported in the nearby town of Grants. The Encerrita Fire remains south and east of Highway 53. On Friday, before the rain event, firefighters were able to take advantage of favorable weather […]
Continue readingSouth Fork and Salt Fire Update 6/22/24
Area closures remain in effect as hazards are assessed and addressed Public Information Line:575-323-8258 or 575-323-8378 Media Information Line: 575-323-8053 Phone Line Hours: 8 am – 8 pm Email: 2024.southfork@firenet.gov Acres: South Fork – 16,614; Salt – 7,652 Start Date: June 17, 2024 Location: South Fork – Ruidoso Area, Salt – 7 mile west of […]
Continue readingFrontal passage gives firefighters an edge on Encerrita Fire
For Immediate Release: June 21, 2024 Contact: El Malpais National Monument Visitor Center, 505-876-2783 Frontal passage gives firefighters an edge on Encerrita Fire Grants, NM —The Encerrita Fire only gained 3 acres on Thursday due to higher humidity that followed a frontal passage. The 2282-acre lightning-caused fire is located in El Malpais National Monument, 15 […]
Continue readingSouth Fork and Salt Fire Update 6/21
Utility outages continue as cooler, wetter weather help firefighters on the ground; localized flooding remains a threat Public Information Line:575-323-8258 Media Information Line: 575-323-8053 Phone Line Hours: 8 am – 8 pm Email: 2024.southfork@firenet.gov Acres: South Fork – 16,349; Salt – 7,652 Start Date: June 17, 2024 Location: South Fork – Ruidoso Area; Salt – […]
Continue readingEncerrita Fire Update – Thursday June 20
As forecasted, winds ahead of the frontal passage Wednesday night led to increased fire activity on the lightning-caused Encerrita Fire, located 15 miles south-southwest of Grants. As the fire grew northward, pushed by a strong south wind, firefighters were able to hold the fire south and east of Highway 53. Crews were assisted by the […]
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June 30, 2024 


