Wildfires force New Mexico village of Ruidoso to evacuate homes: See map

Julia Gomez, USA TODAY

Updated June 20, 2024 at 9:49 a.m.·4 min read

Two wildfires burned through thousands of acres in New Mexico and residents were ordered to evacuate as the fires developed rapidly. Videos show smoke from the fire billowing into the sky, looking like orange clouds, as people watch nearby.

"I strongly urge residents of Ruidoso and the surrounding areas to remain calm and heed official instructions to help minimize risk," said New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham in a statement on Tuesday.

The South Fork Fire and the Salt Fire were discovered on Monday. The fires, which are burning on tribal land, prompted mandatory evacuations for the entire Village of Ruidoso and Ruidoso Downs, a two-hour drive southeast of Albuquerque.

The cost of the damage done by the fires is unknown, according to USA TODAY's data.

By early Monday evening, the flames damaged multiple structures, states the New Mexico Forestry Division, but how many remains unknown.

"My administration is in close contact with state, tribal and federal officials about the status of these fast-moving fires, and we are quickly deploying as many resources as possible to protect people and property," said Grisham.

Map of New Mexico wildfires

Which communities are being evacuated?

The following areas are under mandatory evacuation orders, states the Village of Ruidoso's website:

All of Ruidoso Downs
All of the Village of Ruidoso
All the areas "west of Highway 48"
All of Alto "up to the Outlaw Golf Course"
All of Gavilan Canyon Road from Highway 48 "to McDonald's."
Alpine Village
Alto Lakes
Brady Canyon
Cedar Creek
Lower Eagle Creek
Ponderosa Heights
Sierra Vista
Ski Run Road
Sonterra 1, 2, and 3
Sun Valley
Upper Canyon
Villa Madonna
West Gavilan

The Village of Ruidoso is demanding people leave immediately.

"Please do not try to gather belongings or protect your home - GO NOW," the Village of Ruidoso said in a post on X.

"GO!" Status - Please do not try to gather belongings or protect your home - GO NOW!! Evacuations for:
Sonterra 1
Sonterra 3
Enchanted Forest

IMMEDIATE MANDATORY "GO" EVACUATION FOR THE VILLAGE OF RUIDOSO is still in effect.
— Village of Ruidoso (@VillageRuidoso) June 18, 2024

What streets in Ruidoso are closed?

The following roads and highways are closed to traffic, said the village in another tweet:

Highway 70 closed from Highway 244 to the east Reservation line.
Highway 48 is closed from Alpine Village to State Highway 220.
State police closed Carrizo Canyon Road to all traffic.

Evacuation routes:

"The evacuation route is via Highway 70 and out towards Roswell," states the city's website.

Where can people in Ruidoso evacuate to?

The following locations are open to people evacuating, according to multiple tweets from the village:

ENMU-Roswell gym: The Red Cross set up an emergency shelter for evacuees. If it's full, Godfrey Athletic Center is a secondary option.
Lea County Fairgrounds: The location has Stables and RV hookups, but the village asks that people contact Fairgrounds Director Wyatt Duncan at 575-333-0252.

Other places evacuees can go to according to the village's website:

Capitan High School- Capitan, New Mexico, 88316
Carrizozo High School- 800 D Ave., Carrizozo, New Mexico, 88301
Christ Community Church- 2960 N. Scenic Drive, Alamogordo, New Mexico, 88310
Church on the Move- 901 W. Brasher Road, Roswell, New Mexico, 88203
Church on the Move Dream Center- 2700 W. 2nd St, Roswell, New Mexico, 88201
Eastern New Mexico University- 52 University Blvd., Roswell, New Mexico, 88203
Godfrey Athletic Center- 101 W. College Blvd., Roswell, New Mexico, 88201
Inn of the Mountain Gods- 287 Carrizo Canyon Road, Mescalero, New Mexico, 88340

Shelters for the animals of evacuees:

THe following locations provide shelters to animals, according to the village:

Mescalero Rodeo Grounds, for livestock- Rodeo Grounds Road, Mescalero, New Mexico, 88340
Eastern New Mexico State Fairgrounds- 2500 S.E. Main St., Roswell, New Mexico 88203
Lea County Fairgrounds- 101 S. Commercial St., Lovington, New Mexico 88260

Smoke plumes from the South Fork Fire rise above the tree line as the fire progresses from the Mescalero Apache Indian Reservation to the Lincoln National Forest causing mandatory evacuations in Ruidoso, New Mexico, U.S. June 17, 2024.

Emergency operations relocated

"The Emergency Operations Center for the Ruidoso Fire Department has been relocated to the County Courthouse in Carrizozo," said the Village of Ruidoso.

They can be reached at the following lines for information:

575-937-7785
575-973-5604
575-973-8977

Contributing: Adam D. Young, Alex Driggars; Lubbock Avalanche-Journal

Julia is a trending reporter for USA TODAY. She has covered various topics, from local businesses and government in her hometown, Miami, to tech and pop culture. You can connect with her on LinkedIn or follow her on X, formerly Twitter, Instagram and TikTok: @juliamariegz

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: New Mexico wildfires map: Ruidoso residents forced to evacuate

The Weather Network
B.C. bids farewell to dry conditions as pattern flip brings rain, storm risk
B.C. has already seen more than its monthly average rainfall this month, and now up to 30 mm of more rain is on deck for some to end off June
The Weather Network
Storm threat looms over parts of Ontario, small tornado chance in the northeast
A large cluster of storms, extending for hundreds of kilometres, is forecast to track across southern Ontario through Tuesday. Some storms could turn severe with strong winds, heavy rain and large hail threatening parts of the region
The Weather Network - Video
Cluster of severe thunderstorms targets southern Ontario Tuesday morning
A potential mesoscale convective system targets southwestern Ontario Tuesday morning with heavy rain and lightning. More details with Meteorologist Melinda Singh.
The Weather Network - Video
Damaging wind threats across the 401 corridor
Wind gusts up to 108 km/h have been reported in London. Get the details with meteorologist Tyler Hamilton as this wind surge shifts east.
The Weather Network
Threat of early Tuesday morning storms looms over southwestern Ontario
Thunderstorms could rumble their way into parts of southwestern Ontario in the early-morning hours on Tuesday, with a chance of some turning severe, so make sure you stay alert and be weather-aware
The Weather Network
Sunshine and storms: A long weekend to be watched in southern Ontario
The summer heat hits the pause button in southern Ontario this Canada Day long weekend, but unfortunately, the rain and thunderstorm chances do not. It's a weekend you'll want to pay close attention to if you're planning any outdoor activities
The Weather Network
Week starts off with severe storm threat as risk shifts into Manitoba, NW Ont.
This final week of June will kick off with a severe thunderstorm threat as the weekend risk moves east into parts of southern Manitoba and northwestern Ontario. It's important to remain weather-aware
The Canadian Press
Swollen river claims house next to Minnesota dam as flooding and extreme weather grip the Midwest
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A house that was teetering on the edge of an eroding riverbank near a Minnesota dam collapsed into the river in the latest jarring example of extreme weather gripping the upper Midwest.
Reuters
Flooded Brazil 'ghost town' a climate warning to world, UN advisor says
Record floods that killed over 170 people and displaced half a million in southern Brazil are a warning sign of more disasters to come throughout the Americas because of climate change, an official at the United Nations' refugee agency said on Tuesday. Roughly 389,000 people in the state of Rio Grande do Sul remain displaced from their homes because of the intense rain and flooding, which local officials say was the worst disaster in the region's history. Scientists say climate change made the flooding twice as likely to happen.
The New York Times
Heat Is Killing Thousands, and Big Events Have Not Adjusted
SYDNEY — At large events all over the world, the scenes of extreme heat stress are starting to look familiar. Older men, shirts undone, lying down with their eyes closed. Aid tents packed with the unconscious. And lines of the faithful — whether they seek religion, music, ballot boxes or sport — sweating under slivers of shade. The consequences have been dire. At this year’s hajj, the Islamic pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia, at least 1,300 people died as temperatures surpassed 100 degrees Fahrenheit.
USA TODAY
Storm tracker: See latest details, possible path of 2 disturbances that could develop
The National Hurricane Center is tracking two tropical waves in the Atlantic that are showing signs for potential development.
WPTV- West Palm Beach Scripps
System with 20% chance for tropical development forecast to enter Caribbean
The National Hurricane Center said Monday they are monitoring a new disturbance that is forecast to enter the Caribbean.
KOAT - Albuquerque Videos
Las Vegas residents still feeling the impacts of flooding
Las Vegas residents still feeling the impacts of flooding
WISN - Milwaukee Videos
Chance of severe storms overnight
There is a chance for severe storms ins Southeast Wisconsin between 1 and 6 a.m.
KGTV - San Diego Scripps
ABC 10News Pinpoint Weather with Meteorologist Megan Parry
ABC 10News Pinpoint Weather with Meteorologist Megan Parry
WXYZ-Detroit Videos
More showers and possible t-storms Wednesday
After a very rainy and windy Tuesday morning, we'll keep it quiet into Tuesday night. Clouds will increase with lows in the upper 60s. Showers and a few thunderstorms return midday Wednesday, but severe weather will stay to our south and southwest. Highs climb into the upper 70s, to near 80°.
The Canadian Press
What’s causing the devastating flooding in the Midwest?
ST. LOUIS (AP) — Hundreds of Iowa residents have needed rescue from record-setting flooding that has swamped parts of the state, covering buildings up to their rooftops, shutting down major roads, and disrupting basic services like electricity and drinking water.
CNN
Dangerous heat is shifting this week. Here’s where it will go next
Brutally hot temperatures show no signs of stopping in the US this summer and are set to impact even areas dealing with devastating and historic flooding.
WLKY - Louisville Videos
More rain and storm chances Wednesday
WLKY Meteorologist Matt Milosevich is tracking impact weather, with showers and storms in our Wednesday skies.
Fox Weather
Bryan Norcross: Watching western Caribbean while rest of the tropics remain calm
A weak tropical disturbance just moving into the Caribbean islands will arrive in the western Caribbean at the end of the week. Computer forecast models indicate that a bubble of conducive atmosphere might allow the disturbance to develop, at least briefly. The National Hurricane Center is putting the chances in the low category at this point. The window of opportunity looks short.