Residents of Ruidoso, New Mexico, were abruptly ordered to evacuate their homes on Monday evening as a rapidly advancing wildfire threatened the village. Officials issued a stark directive via social media and local announcements, urging residents to leave immediately without attempting to gather belongings or protect their properties. By the time of the evacuation order, the fire had already engulfed an area spanning over 2 square miles, prompting the shutdown of electricity to approximately 2,000 homes and businesses by the Public Service Company of New Mexico.
The blaze, known as the South Fork Fire, originated on the Mescalero Apache Reservation before spreading to nearby U.S. Forest Service lands. As of late Monday night, the fire had expanded to cover 8.2 square miles with zero containment, posing a significant threat to multiple structures in its path. Emergency services in southern New Mexico reported disruptions due to phone outages, potentially impacting response times amid the crisis. Meanwhile, a separate fire named the Salt Fire, also on the Mescalero Reservation southwest of Ruidoso, continued to burn unchecked across 4.3 square miles.
In response to the escalating emergency, authorities in nearby Roswell prepared evacuation centers and accommodations for residents fleeing the affected area. With concerns over air quality mounting due to heavy smoke, an air quality alert was issued for Ruidoso and surrounding regions, warning of hazardous conditions. The situation remains critical as firefighters work tirelessly to contain the inferno amidst challenging terrain and adverse weather conditions in southern New Mexico.
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