The Mescalero Elderly Program has frozen meal dinners and water to GIVE AWAY TO ALL IN NEED.

First come, first serve until gone!

They are open M-F 8AM-4:30PM

530 Lipan Avenue Mescalero, NM 88340

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Daily Update, Thursday, June 27, 2024 

Mescalero Apache Tribe Emergency Operations Center: 575-464-4341

Village of Ruidoso and Lincoln County Emergency Operations Center: 575-258-6900 

Fire Information Phone:575-323-8378 or 575-323-8258  

Media Information Phone: 575-323-8053 

Phone Line Hours: 8 am – 8 pm 

Email: 2024.southfork@firenet.gov 

Acres: South Fork – 17,569; Salt – 7,939

Start Date: June 17, 2024 

Location: South Fork – Ruidoso Area, Salt – 7 mile west of Mescalero, NM Personnel: 900

Containment: South Fork – 69%; Salt – 66% 

Fuels: mixed conifer, grass, pine/juniper  

Resources: The South Fork and Salt fires are currently staffed with 21 crews, 4 helicopters, 42 engines, 9 bulldozers, and 12 water tenders. 

Highlights: 

Interactive property map updates available for Village of Ruidoso. Property access status updates are available, including properties available for re-entry and those in the No Entry/Exclusion Zones. Use www.ruidoso-nm.gov/south-fork-fire for more information.  

Reminder: Celebrate July 4th without fireworks. Fireworks can cause new starts in the area. Please celebrate the holiday without fireworks this year, so firefighters and cooperators can complete their efforts across the South Fork and Salt Fires. 

Fire Activity: The South Fork and Salt fires are experiencing limited fire activity, thanks in part to daily scattered storms, and the hard work firefighters are putting in to find and extinguish hot spots. Occasional smoke will be visible as pockets of unburned fuels and could ignite, even as monsoonal weather patterns move into the area. 

Crews continue to mop up and begin to repair actions taken by firefighters to prevent the South Fork and Salt fires from growing. Cooperators, and utility providers are working to address service needs for communities. As a reminder, conditions are dynamic and will remain that way through the duration of the incident. Maintain awareness and reduce your speed while traveling through the area. 

Weather: Temperatures will remain in the mid-high 80s. Scattered showers and thunderstorms return, bringing along the risk of flash floods and debris flows.  

Smoke: Smoke production will remain light to moderate with the highest impacts during the early morning and late evening hours. Additional details are available at https://outlooks.wildlandfiresmoke.net/outlook/430b2c05. 

Reentry: No evacuations are in place. However, designated “NO ENTRY/EXCLUSION ZONES” remain in place in some areas of the village. Visit https://www.ruidoso-nm.gov/south-fork-fire or contact the Village of Ruidoso and Lincoln County Emergency Operations Centers for more information.   

Tribal members who have been displaced outside of the Mescalero Apache Reservation due to the fires are strongly encouraged to contact the Tribe’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) to help you and your families get back to the reservation. If you’re stranded out of town at other evacuation sites, please call the EOC at 575-464-9214 for more details. 

Closures: A South Fork Fire Emergency Closure Order was issued on June 20, 2024, for national forest lands within the Smokey Bear Ranger District. The identified areas, and roads and trails therein, are closed to public access to allow firefighting personnel to work and through the fire area safely. More information is available at www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/lincoln/alerts-notices/?aid=88199.  

A Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) is in place over the fire area. Public/commercial drone flights are also prohibited within this area. If you fly, we may have to ground our air resources. Visit https://www.tfr.faa.gov for more information. 

More information: 

Inciweb: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/nmmea-south-fork-and-salt 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SWIMT5 

Smoke Outlook: https://outlooks.wildlandfiresmoke.net/outlook/430b2c05 

Lincoln County Government: www.lincolncountynm.gov 

Mescalero Apache Tribe: https://mescaleroapachetribe.com 

Village of Ruidoso: www.ruidoso-nm.gov/south-fork-fire 

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Our hope came in the form of charitable people who showed up at our doorstep and gave us their time and energy without being called upon.

With over 100 volunteers, the Mescalero Apache Tribe was able to establish two evacuation sites on the reservation.

These sites could not be functional without the assistance of the volunteers.

The Mescalero Apache Tribe wishes to acknowledge and thank the incredible people who gave their time volunteering as a result of the South Fork and Salt Fires.

Your acts of kindness do not go unnoticed.

“The objectives of the Emergency Operations Center are to protect our people, property, and our homelands safely. This would not have been possible without the help of volunteers, tribal employees, and assistance from the community, “lamented Mescalero Apache Tribe Emergency Manager Thomas LaPaz. “We thank all of you from the bottom of our hearts. We will continue to need your support in this long recovery process moving forward. Again, thank you.”

Saying thank you simple isn’t enough for the amount of gratitude we feel towards these special people, but we certainly want to express how greatly and positively affected we are by their service.

We are genuinely grateful for each and every one of you.

‘Ixéhe.

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FEMA will be set up in a trailer on the upper parking lot at the Mescalero Community Center. They will have individuals available for ANYONE wanting one-on-one help with applying for disaster survivor assistance.

Mescalero Community Center

8AM – 6:30PM starting June 26, 2024

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Daily Update, Wednesday, June 26, 2024 

Mescalero Apache Tribe Emergency Operations Center: 575-464-4341

Village of Ruidoso and Lincoln County Emergency Operations Center: 575-258-6900 

Fire Information Phone:575-323-8378 or 575-323-8258  

Media Information Phone: 575-323-8053 

Phone Line Hours: 8 am – 8 pm 

Email: 2024.southfork@firenet.gov 

Acres: South Fork – 17,569; Salt – 7,939                          

Start Date: June 17, 2024 

Location: South Fork – Ruidoso Area, Salt – 7 mile west of Mescalero, NM

Personnel: 949 

Containment: South Fork – 64%; Salt – 55% 

Fuels: mixed conifer, grass, pine/juniper  

Resources: The South Fork and Salt fires are currently staffed with 21 crews, 6 helicopters, 54 engines, 8 bulldozers, and 13 water tenders. 

Highlights: 

An interactive property map is now available for the Village of Ruidoso. An online map is available to assist residents in identifying the status of property access, including properties available for re-entry and those in the No Entry/Exclusion Zones. See “More Information” below for the map link.  

Residents and visitors are encouraged to celebrate our Nation’s Birthday, July 4th, without fireworks. We are getting close to celebrating our Nation’s Birthday, July 4th. The Mescalero Apache Reservation, Lincoln National Forest and municipal areas have areas that have not received significant rainfall, and fireworks could start new fires. Please celebrate without fireworks this year, so firefighters can complete their efforts to secure the perimeter of the South Fork and Salt fires. 

Slow down. Motorists are reminded to slow down while traveling on the Mescalero Apache Reservation. There is still active fire, fire personnel, equipment and utility vehicles along US Highway 70. Help keep firefighters and crews safe by slowing down while traveling through the area. 

Fire Activity: On Tuesday, as temperatures increased and fuels dried slightly, several smokes were observed by crews on the South Fork and Salt fires. This activity is the result of unburned and smoldering fuels igniting inside the fire area, including dead and downed trees/debris, snags, and stumps. Potential for these fuels to spread outside the current perimeter is minimal.  

A lot of activity is still occurring across the fire area as crews work through structural assessments of buildings impacted by the fire, mop up and begin suppression repair. Cooperators, including utility providers and others are also traveling within the fire area. Area and neighborhood status and conditions are dynamic and will remain that way through the duration of the incident. 

Weather: Temperatures will remain in the high 80s. Slow-moving scattered showers and thunderstorms will return in the afternoon, increasing the risk of flash floods and debris flows.  

Smoke: Smoke production will remain light to moderate on Tuesday with the highest impacts during the early morning and late evening hours. Additional details are available at https://outlooks.wildlandfiresmoke.net/outlook/430b2c05. 

Reentry: No evacuations are in place. However, designated “NO ENTRY/EXCLUSION ZONES” remain in place in some areas of the village. Visit https://www.ruidoso-nm.gov/south-fork-fire or contact the Village of Ruidoso and Lincoln County Emergency Operations Centers for more information.   

Tribal members who have been displaced outside of the Mescalero Apache Reservation due to the fires are strongly encouraged to contact the Tribe’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) to help you and your families get back to the reservation. If you’re stranded out of town at other evacuation sites, please call the EOC at 575-464-9214 for more details. 

Closures: A South Fork Fire Emergency Closure Order was issued on June 20, 2024, for national forest lands within the Smokey Bear Ranger District. The identified areas, and roads and trails therein, are closed to public access to allow firefighting personnel to work and through the fire area safely. More information is available at www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/lincoln/alerts-notices/?aid=88199.  

A Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) is in place over the fire area. Public/commercial drone flights are also prohibited within this area. If you fly, we may have to ground our air resources. Visit https://www.tfr.faa.gov for more information.

More information:  

Inciweb: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/nmmea-south-fork-and-salt

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SWIMT5

Smoke Outlook: https://outlooks.wildlandfiresmoke.net/outlook/430b2c05

Lincoln County Government: www.lincolncountynm.gov

Mescalero Apache Tribe: https://mescaleroapachetribe.com

Village of Ruidoso: www.ruidoso-nm.gov/south-fork-fire

Village of Ruidoso property status map: https://ruidoso.maps.arcgis.com/apps/instant/lookup/index.html?appid=e5a6b23bd2934ed192373e9ccbb4aee2

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SLOW DOWN FOR THE SAFETY OF THE FIREFIGHTERS

Chief of Police James Vepley is requesting motorists to slow down while traveling on the Mescalero Apache Reservation.

There is still an active fire, fire personnel, equipment and utility vehicles along US Highway 70.

BIA has observed speeders doing in excess of 20 miles per hour over the speed limit on Highway 70 between the Summit and Route 4 (IMG turn off). 

BIA has partnered with New Mexico State Police, New Mexico Department of Transportation, and the Southwest Fire Incident Management Command Law Enforcement Liaison to lower the speed limit in the Summit area to 45 miles per hour.

The main concern from BIA is the safety of the firefighters who are still stationed in this area.

Officers will be issuing citations for traffic violations with assistance from New Mexico State Police.

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ALBUQUERQUE – The Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency has issued an amendment adding Otero County and flooding to the notice of Major Disaster Declaration in New Mexico related to South Fork and Salt Fires as declared by the President on June 20, 2024. 

Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) is available to individuals whose employment or self-employment was lost or interrupted as a direct result of the 2024 Wildfires in the areas of Lincoln County, Otero County, and the Mescalero Apache Tribe. 

The process to apply for DUA benefits includes two steps:

1. An individual must first apply for Standard Unemployment Insurance. This may be done online anytime 24/7 at https://www.jobs.state.nm.us, in person at any Workforce Connection Center, or by calling the Unemployment Insurance Operations center at 1-877-664-6984, Monday through Friday, 8am-4:30pm. Claimants filing their standard unemployment insurance claim online should be sure to check the box indicating that they have been affected by the fires.

2. After an individual receives notice that they are not eligible for Standard Unemployment Insurance, they may then apply for Disaster Unemployment Assistance by calling the Unemployment Insurance Operations Center or by coming in person to any New Mexico Workforce Connection Center. As a fraud prevention measure, DUA applications are only accepted in person or by phone.

In addition to the standard hours of operation, the Department of Workforce Solutions, in collaboration with the Eastern Area Local Workforce Development Board will continue to provide services from the Roswell Convention Center.

Individuals who lost work or employment in the designated disaster areas must file DUA applications by August 19, 2024, DUA is available to those who:

• Worked or were self-employed or were scheduled to begin work or self-employment; and
• Do not qualify for regular unemployment benefits, or Extended Benefits (EB) from any state; and
• Fall into at least one of the following categories:
• Were unable to reach their job or self-employment location because they must travel through the affected area and are prevented from doing so by the disaster; or
• Can no longer work or perform services because of physical damage or destruction to the place of employment as a direct result of the disaster; or
• Cannot physically access the place of employment due to its closure by the federal, state, or local government in immediate response to the disaster; or
• Can establish that the work or self-employment they can no longer perform was their principal source of income; or
• Cannot perform work or self-employment because of an injury as a direct result of the disaster; or
• Became the breadwinner or major support of a household because of the death related to the disaster/fire.

Claimants should file as soon as possible. Applications filed after the August 19, 2024 deadline will be considered untimely, and DUA benefits may be denied unless the individual provides good cause for filing after that date.

Proof of employment/self-employment must be submitted no later than 21 days after filing for a DUA claim. The following documents are acceptable as proof of employment:

• Payroll voucher closest in date to the last work week
• Employment and earnings statement from employer with name, address and contact information
• Written statement from employer
• Business records (bank statements, business receipts, licenses, advertisements, invoices, appointment books, financial statements)
• Notarized statement from person with name, address, and contact information who can verify your self-employment and unemployment

If an individual is self-employed, their 2023 federal income tax return and schedules can serve as proof of prior wages but does not substantiate their proof of employment at the time of the disaster.

DUA is available for weeks of unemployment beginning June 23, 2024 until December 21, 2024, as long as the individual’s unemployment continues to be a direct result of the disaster.

DUA applications are only accepted in person or by phone. If an individual applies for benefits by phone or in person, they will automatically receive their benefits via debit card unless they had a previous claim where they received direct deposit. A claimant can change their payment method to direct deposit at any time by logging onto their claimant homepage on the Unemployment Insurance Tax & Claims system at https://www.jobs.state.nm.us. Claimants who do not elect to receive payments through direct deposit should provide a safe address that will be accessible even during evacuation periods, and at which a trusted person will be receiving the mail.

Individuals who are applying in person for DUA may go to any New Mexico Workforce Connection Center (https://www.dws.state.nm.us/Office-Locations) to speak with an NMDWS representative Monday through Friday 8am-5pm.

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Daily Update, Tuesday, June 25, 2024

Mescalero Apache Tribe Emergency Operations Center: 575-464-9214 

Village of Ruidoso Emergency Operations Center: 575-464-9214 

Fire Information Phone:575-323-8378 or 575-323-8258  

Media Information Phone: 575-323-8053 

Phone Line Hours: 8 am – 8 pm 

Email: 2024.southfork@firenet.gov 

Acres: South Fork – 17,556; Salt – 7,947

Start Date: June 17, 2024 

Location: South Fork – Ruidoso Area, Salt – 7 mile west of Mescalero, NM

Personnel: 1,006

Containment: South Fork – 54%; Salt – 38% 

Fuels: mixed conifer, grass, pine/juniper  

Resources: The South Fork and Salt fires are currently staffed with 12 crews, 8 helicopters, 61 engines, 9 bulldozers, and 18 water tenders. 

Highlights: Containment on the South Fork and Salt fires increased as crews continue working hard to seek out and address residual heat sources across the fire area.  

Fire Activity: Fire activity has reduced significantly across the South Fork and Salt fires thanks to persistent scattered storms. While pockets of large, heavy, dead/downed fuels, snags, and stumps continue to smolder, growth potential along the perimeter will be very minimal.  

On Monday, scattered thunderstorms caused localized flooding again, but crews were still able to access many areas of the South Fork and Salt fires and made good progress on structural assessments and containment operations.  

Today, crews will focus on constructing direct control lines and mopping up hot spots where needed. Mop up will continue until full containment is reached, including removal of hazard trees and securing the fire perimeter. Additionally, crews will assist utility cooperators in gaining access to damaged areas to conduct assessments. 

Weather: The fire area experienced noticeably warmer conditions on Monday. Today, temperatures will remain in the high 80s with lower chances of isolated showers. Wednesday will bring more moisture and higher potential for scattered rains. 

Smoke: Smoke production will remain light to moderate on Monday. Additional details are available at https://outlooks.wildlandfiresmoke.net/outlook/430b2c05. 

Evacuations: No evacuations are in place. However, designated “NO ENTRY/EXCLUSION ZONES” remain in place in some areas of the village. Use www.lincolncountynm.gov and www.ruidoso-nm.gov/south-fork-fire or contact the Emergency Operations Centers for more information.  

Tribal members who have been displaced outside of the Mescalero Apache Reservation due to the fires are strongly encouraged to contact the Tribe’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) to help you and your families get back to the reservation. If you’re stranded out of town at other evacuation sites, please call the EOC at 575-464-9214 for more details. 

Closures: A South Fork Fire Emergency Closure Order was issued on June 20, 2024, for national forest lands within the Smokey Bear Ranger District. The identified areas, and roads and trails therein, are closed to public access to allow firefighting personnel to work and through the fire area safely. More information is available at www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/lincoln/alerts-notices/?aid=88199.  

A Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) is in place over the fire area. Public/commercial drone flights are also prohibited within this area. If you fly, we may have to ground our air resources. Visit https://www.tfr.faa.gov for more information.

More information:  

Inciweb: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/nmmea-south-fork-and-salt

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SWIMT5

Smoke Outlook: https://outlooks.wildlandfiresmoke.net/outlook/430b2c05

Lincoln County Government: www.lincolncountynm.gov

Mescalero Apache Tribe: https://mescaleroapachetribe.com

Village of Ruidoso: www.ruidoso-nm.gov/south-fork-fire

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Families & individuals who are directly affected by the South Fork & Salt Fires take priority in utilizing the services, efforts and items provided at the evacuation sites located at the Mescalero Community Center and IMG Convention Center.

If you are NOT DIRECTLY affected by the fires, we strongly urge you to stay clear of both evacuation sites.

We are being overwhelmed with individuals who were not and are not affected by the fires thus, creating difficulty in prioritizing the evacuees and those who are directly affected.

We are also providing resources and donations to Ruidoso residents who have lost their home or have been affected by the fires.

Please call the Tribe’s Emergency Operations Center at 575-464-9214 for more detailed information on how we can help you and your family resettle into your home.

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