The South Fork Fire in New Mexico has prompted evacuation orders in several nearby areas.

“Evacuations are happening in a part of Ruidoso on Monday, June 17, 2024, due to the South Fork Fire,” KRQE reports.

The following areas also received evacuation orders:

  • Village of Ruidoso
  • Upper Canyon
  • Brady Canyon
  • Ponderosa Heights
  • Cedar Creek
  • Flume Canyon
  • All of Alpine Village on either side of Musketball
  • Apache Summit

“The only route to evacuate is Sudderth to Highway 70 and out to Roswell,” KRQE added.

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Per KRQE:

The following areas are in a “Set” status and need to be prepared to evacuate if notified:

  • Gavilan Canyon (west)
  • Sun Valley
  • Sierra Vista
  • Villa Madonna
  • Ski Sun Road
  • Areas west of HWY 48

The Ruidoso Convention Center is an emergency shelter at 111 Sierra Blanca Dr, but officials are asking people to head to Capitan High School now. Mescalero Apache Tribe Reservation residents can go to the Community Center Gymnasium.

Anyone who is evacuating and needs a place to take their pets can take them to the Humane Society of Lincoln County, Ruidoso, NM.

“There are heavy timbers in that area. The Upper Canyon, Brady Canyon area, the evacuation routes are very limited, and so it’s important for them to get jumpstart on this to get people out safely,” said Duane Duffy, vice president of the Mescalero Apache Tribe.

KOAT reports:

U.S. Highway 70 is closed south of the Village of Ruidoso. The closure starts at the State Road 244 intersection, according to New Mexico State Police.

It begins four miles east of Mescalero and ends two miles east of Carrizo at mile marker 258. State police is advising people to seek an alternative route and to use caution.

The Village of Ruidoso reports hot ash falling in parts of Alto and along Airport Road. They are asking anyone who sees hot ash spots or an active fire to call 911.

Several fire agencies and aircrafts will be working the fire. Fire suppression efforts are by air only due to dangerous conditions to firefighters on the ground.

Grindstone Lake will be closed on Monday due to a fire response aircraft using the lake, according to the Village of Ruidoso.

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