Not good.

https://www.koat.com/article/new-mexico-fire-starts-mescalero/61145329

RUIDOSO, N.M. —
The South Fork Fire has claimed about 1,400 buildings, according to New Mexico Forestry Division officials. The fire has grown to 15,276 acres as of the Tuesday night update.

One person has died from the fire, according to the New Mexico Governor's Office.
The state Forestry Division says the fire grew Tuesday due to "long-range spotting," a term meaning burning materials are carried up by winds and fall outside the current fire boundary.

On Wednesday, the area is expecting scattered showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon.


https://www.ruidoso-nm.gov/news-info/pkhe2zh746wdxhxwcxjd9sxspebm3l

Ruidoso-NM.gov | Municipal Website of the Village of Ruidoso, NM
Municipal Website of the Village of Ruidoso, NM

SOUTH FORK FIRE, SALT FIRE EVENING UPDATE – JUNE 18, 2024
June 18, 2024

Update: The South Fork fire is estimated at 15,276 acres and is zero percent contained. Fire activity included crowning and long-range spotting, which increased the fire’s footprint from this morning’s acreage total. Today, response crews were able to directly engage areas of the fire’s footprint when conditions allowed. Approximately 1,400 structures in the area have been lost.

The South Fork Fire was discovered at 9 a.m., Monday, June 17, 2024; it is burning on Mescalero Tribal land, US Forest Service land and within the areas surrounding Ruidoso. Fire growth has been rapid with extreme fire behavior. Long range spotting and intense heat with plume domination. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Weather: Tonight, a low temp of 56, SW winds 5 to 15 mph, 12-16% RH. Tomorrow, scattered showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 3 pm. Increasing clouds, with a high near 85. Southeast wind 5-10 mph increasing to 10-15 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

I was told this morning that two teenage boys started the fires up on the reservation. They may even be in custody.

May be red retardant,

Surprised by the lack of news coverage on this? Bits and pieces I can find say there is heavy raining in that area and now flooding from the runoff.
No word on if the have either fired contained ?

Have a vacation/golfing trip scheduled for Ruidoso from July 3 -9th, might need to come up with a plan B.

My buddy said they got 1-2" of rain up there yesterday afternoon pretty much quenching the fires. The devastation did occur in some areas, but not nearly as bad as we were led to believe by the fake news networks. He said the fire maps were pretty much a joke, as most of the businesses were fine.

That’s great news. So sorry for those that did suffer from the fires. Any word on the cause? I’ve seen arson and lightning reported.

I heard about several businesses that burned, then I watched the Albuquerque news and they had a live feed from a city cam in Ruidoso that showed NM DPS driving by and the rumored businesses were fine. No one will know for sure until it's over and we get honest eyes back in there.

My buddy told me yesterday that two teenagers from the reservation started the fires and they had them in custody. Not sure how that works with Indians/USA prosecution for lack of a better term.

I got a call this morning from my neighbor, he's a retired Lieutenant with the Ruidoso Fire Dept., but stayed to help. His house backs up to the Lincoln National Forest, across the street from ours. The fireline was within yards of his fence. As the fire line was along most of the north west side of town. He said about 1500 buildings/houses were lost.

A lot of rumors were started about businesses being burned. Those rumors were also reported in the news. Albertsons, Farleys, Club Gas, Alto Cafe, and others were reported as being burned. Today they are open for business or waiting for their electric and internet to be turned on.

Swiss Chalet and an Alto area ski shop burned. There were also some houses burned in Alto, not sure but the rumor I heard was about 15 houses. Also some of their golf course got scorched from flying embers.

A lot of houses on Cedar Creek rd were lost. Never heard how many. Some damage along Musketball Rd. That is like west edge of town in that area.

There was one death, a man died in the Swiss Chalet fire. It was the hotel on the left at the north edge of Ruidoso on the way to Alto.

If the rains had not started yesterday, my neighbor said he would have probably lost his house and we our cabin. Plus most of our neighborhood But the rain and hail storm saved us.

In less than 3 full days the fire went to over 15000 acres with 0% containment. Then the rain storm pretty well stopped it from spreading. But then parts of town and the Hondo valley were dealing with flooding. One RV park had trailers floating in the rushing water.

The other fire, the Salt Fire that started near Apache Summit killed one person and was about to reach Ruidoso Downs just before the rains came.

Stub, by 3 July the golf course will probably in business. But the smell of smoke from the fire will linger for awhile. If they get some more rain it won't be as bad.

my heart breaks for those that lost property and life

Solely depends on the Tribal Council, I image they haven’t left reservation nation yet assuming they are tribal.