Ruidoso fire updates for June 22: Wildfires burn over 24K acres, partially contained

RUIDOSO, N.M.– Ruidoso Mayor Lynn Crawford provided an update to the village’s residents in the wake of mass evacuations due to the Salt Fire and South Fork wildfires. As of Saturday morning, the wildfires had burned more than 24,000 acres and killed two people.

Mayor Crawford said the community had lost two million gallons of water from its water supply, and it has been “working very difficult situations to get our water backup; we lost the electrical to a lot of our pumps.”

In addition to the loss of water storage, grocery stores have had no employees or groceries in the last week. Crawford said residents will need to be “conservative” with their water usage.

“I’m gonna have to trust you, and you’re gonna have to trust each other, to be very conservative with your water. short showers, be very conservative,” Mayor Crawford said.

Fire and Weather details

The South Fork fire contained 26% of the total, while the Salt fire contained only 7% of the total. More than 1,100 personnel were on the scene.

“Due to the weather conditions, firefighter activity was limited on the South Fork and Salt fires. Conditions are expected to improve on Saturday, allowing crews to continue fire suppression efforts,” officials said.

Saturday is expected to have wet conditions that will “decrease as a high-pressure system moves in, bringing less humidity, warmer temperatures and scattered clouds.” Sunday morning will have light winds and scattered thunderstorms in the early afternoon.

Evacuations and Closures

Mandatory evacuation orders remain in effect for several areas in and near the fire.

Wildfire resources and coverage:

• Lubbock sees haze, smoke due to Ruidoso wild fires, NWS confirms
• Evacuation shelters for Ruidoso residents during wildfires
• Reunification efforts underway after Ruidoso evacuates due to wildfires
• Update on Ruidoso wildfires Tuesday morning after mandatory evacuations
• ‘Frightening’ Ruidoso resident leaves home as wildfires burn through town
• New Mexico governor declares state of emergency for South Fork and Salt fires
• Flash Flood Warning issued during Ruidoso wildfires
• Alto Ski Shop & Bar among 1,400 structures destroyed by South Fork Fire
• Ruidoso wildfires: 2 people dead, at least 1,400 structures impacted so far
• ‘It’s devastating:’ How Lubbock can help during the Ruidoso wildfires
• Two deaths reported in South Fork Fire, New Mexico State Police say
• Ruidoso wildfire Thursday updates: More storms expected in afternoon, evening
• Veteran loses home in Ruidoso fires but has ‘great attitude,’ daughter starts GoFundMe
• Friend remembers first Ruidoso fire victim as a ‘great person’ with a ‘big heart’

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