Rapidly Growing South Fork and Salt Fires Force Mandatory Evacuations in Ruidoso, New Mexico: 15.5 sq Miles Uncontained

Ruidoso, New Mexico United States of America
Evacuation orders for parts of Mescalero Apache Indian Reservation including areas of Snow Springs, Fence Canyon, Whitetail, Chihuahua Well, Fantasy Lane, Summit area and Botella Road.
First responders grappling with phone outages and power shut off in portions of Ruidoso impacting nearly 800 homes and businesses.
Mandatory evacuations for thousands of residents in Ruidoso due to fast-moving wildfires, multiple structures lost.
Only route for evacuation is on Sudderth to Highway 70 and out to Roswell. Evacuation centers set up in nearby Roswell.
Salt Fire also reported on the Mescalero Apache Reservation and had grown to over 4.3 sq miles by Tuesday morning with no containment.
South Fork Fire started on Monday, 18th of June 2024, grew to at least 8.2 sq miles with no containment.
Two wildfires, South Fork Fire and Salt Fire, are tearing across a southern New Mexico tribal reservation and converging on the village of Ruidoso.
Rapidly Growing South Fork and Salt Fires Force Mandatory Evacuations in Ruidoso, New Mexico: 15.5 sq Miles Uncontained

Two wildfires, the South Fork Fire and Salt Fire, are tearing across a southern New Mexico tribal reservation and converging on the village of Ruidoso. The fires started on Monday and have since grown rapidly due to very dry air and high temperatures, prompting mandatory evacuations for thousands of residents.

The South Fork Fire was first reported around 9 a.m. on June 18, 2024, on tribal and government lands surrounding Ruidoso. By evening, it had grown to at least 8.2 sq miles (21.2 sq km) with no containment.

The Salt Fire was also reported on the Mescalero Apache Reservation and had grown to over 4.3 sq miles (11.0 sq km) by Tuesday morning with no containment.

Residents of Ruidoso, a village home to 7,000 people, were ordered to evacuate their homes without taking belongings due to the fast-moving wildfires. Multiple structures have been lost in both fires.

The South Fork Fire started on the Mescalero Apache Reservation and was burning on tribal and US Forest Service land within areas surrounding Ruidoso. The Salt Fire was also burning on the Mescalero reservation and south-west of Ruidoso.

Evacuation orders were also in place for parts of the Mescalero Apache Indian Reservation including areas of Snow Springs, Fence Canyon, Whitetail, Chihuahua Well, Fantasy Lane, Summit area and Botella Road.

First responders are grappling with phone outages affecting a communications center potentially hindering the ability to respond to 911 calls. Power has been shut off in portions of Ruidoso at the request of first responders impacting nearly 800 homes and businesses.

The only route for evacuation is on Sudderth to Highway 70 and out to Roswell. Evacuation centers have been set up in nearby Roswell, including Eastern New Mexico University-Roswell gym, Lea County Fairgrounds, Capitan High School, Carrizozo High School, Church on the Move and Church on the Move Dream Center.

The wildfires' explosive growth is being fed by very dry air and high temperatures prompting an elevated fire risk warning across most of New Mexico.



Confidence

100%

No Doubts Found At Time Of Publication

Sources

99%

  • Unique Points
    • Ruidoso village residents were ordered to evacuate due to a fast-moving wildfire on June 18, 2024.
    • The South Fork Fire started on the Mescalero Apache Reservation and was burning on tribal and US Forest Service land surrounding Ruidoso.
    • Multiple structures were under threat and a number had been lost in the Ruidoso wildfire.
  • Accuracy
    • ]The South Fork Fire had spread to at least 3,000 acres by nightfall[
    • An estimated 5,000 residents were ordered to evacuate the village area due to the approaching South Fork Fire
    • As of Tuesday morning, South Fork Fire burned nearly 14,000 acres with 0% containment
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (0%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

98%

  • Unique Points
    • Two fires, South Fork Fire and Salt Fire, are tearing across a southern New Mexico tribal reservation and converging on the village of Ruidoso.
    • An estimated 5,000 residents were ordered to evacuate the village area due to the approaching South Fork Fire.
    • Evacuation orders are also in place in parts of the Mescalero Apache Indian Reservation including areas of Snow Springs, Fence Canyon, Whitetail, Chihuahua Well, Fantasy Lane, Summit area and Botella Road.
    • First responders are grappling with phone outages affecting a communications center potentially hindering the ability to respond to 911 calls.
    • Rebecca Dennis and her family evacuated Ruidoso proactively when they could smell the smoke and the village was ordered to evacuate.
    • The only route for evacuation is on Sudderth to Highway 70 and out to Roswell.
    • Power has been shut off in portions of Ruidoso at the request of first responders impacting nearly 800 homes and businesses.
    • The wildfires’ explosive growth is being fed by very dry air and high temperatures prompting an elevated fire risk warning across most of New Mexico.
  • Accuracy
    • ]Two fires, South Fork Fire and Salt Fire, are tearing across a southern New Mexico tribal reservation and converging on the village of Ruidoso.[
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (95%)
    The author uses the phrase 'like a pair of tongs' to describe how the fires are converging on Ruidoso. This is an example of figurative language that could be perceived as exaggerating the situation and creating a sense of urgency. It does not provide any factual information about the fires or their impact, but rather adds emotional weight to the article.
    • Both fires are acting like ‘a pair of tongs, and Ruidoso is in the middle’.
      • Two fast-growing fires are tearing across a southern New Mexico tribal reservation and converging on a village ‘like a pair of tongs’,
      • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication
      • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication

      97%

      • Unique Points
        • South Fork Fire discovered around 9 a.m. on June 18, 2024 on tribal and government lands surrounding Ruidoso, New Mexico.
        • No reports of injuries but unknown number of structures have been lost.
      • Accuracy
        No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
      • Deception (100%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication
      • Fallacies (85%)
        The article contains inflammatory rhetoric and appeals to authority. It also uses a dichotomous depiction by presenting the fire as an extreme event with no mention of potential human factors or historical context.
        • . . .a wildfire exploded in size and spread, burning some structures and threatening more.
        • It quickly grew to thousands of acres during the afternoon as gusty winds reaching 20-30 mph and low humidity fueled the flames.
        • Please do not try to gather belongings or protect your home, GO NOW.
        • Emergency officials set up shelters in nearby Roswell and offered state fairgrounds space to house evacuated livestock.
      • Bias (100%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication
      • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication
      • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication

      100%

      • Unique Points
        • Residents of Ruidoso, New Mexico were ordered to evacuate their homes without taking belongings due to a fast-moving wildfire.
        • The South Fork fire started on the Mescalero Apache Reservation and was estimated at about 8.2 sq miles with 0% containment.
        • Multiple structures were under threat and some had been lost in the South Fork fire.
      • Accuracy
        No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
      • Deception (100%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication
      • Fallacies (100%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication
      • Bias (100%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication
      • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication
      • Author Conflicts Of Interest (0%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication

      99%

      • Unique Points
        • Residents were ordered to evacuate the Village of Ruidoso and Ruidoso Downs due to the rapidly developing fires.
        • Mandatory evacuations were issued for all areas including All of Ruidoso Downs, All of the Village of Ruidoso, Upper Canyon, Brady Canyon, Ponderosa Heights, Alpine Village, Cedar Creek, Lower Eagle Creek, Alto Lakes, Sonterra 1, 2 and 3 and All of Alto up to the Outlaw Golf Course.
        • Evacuation routes are via Highway 70 towards Roswell.
        • People can evacuate to ENMU-Roswell gym, Lea County Fairgrounds, Capitan High School, Carrizozo High School, Church on the Move and Church on the Move Dream Center.
      • Accuracy
        • ]Two wildfires, South Fork Fire and Salt Fire, burned through thousands of acres in New Mexico.[
        • Multiple structures were damaged but the number is unknown.
        • Highway 70 from Highway 244 to the east and Highway 48 from Alpine Village to State Highway 220 are closed.
        • Carrizo Canyon Road is closed to all traffic.
      • Deception (100%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication
      • Fallacies (100%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication
      • Bias (100%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication
      • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication
      • Author Conflicts Of Interest (0%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication