State disaster recovery center, 24/7 hotline available to help connect people to resources and answer questions 

SANTA FE, NM –State, federal, local and county agencies are working together to provide resources to those impacted by the South Fork and Salt fires. 

A state Disaster Recovery Center is now open at the Roswell Convention Center and will remain open seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Residents can get connected to Disaster Case Management and receive help coordinating both short-term and long-term resources.  

In addition to Disaster Case Management resources, the following state agencies will be at the center to provide help with the following: 

1. Applications for Snap benefits and other assistance programs.  
2. Unemployment.  
3. WIC. 
4. Insurance claims or checking on policies. 
5. Additional living expense payments. 
6. Help getting documents for existing Medicaid policies.  
7. Applying for Medicaid.  
8. Peer support. 

Applications for Federal Disaster Assistance are now open. Individuals in Lincoln County and the Mescalero Apache Tribe can apply online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or call the FEMA application helpline at (800) 621-3362. Calls are accepted daily from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Mountain Time.  

FEMA will have a team available to help those impacted with applications for Federal Disaster Assistance beginning this weekend at shelter facilities. 

Serious Needs Assistance (SNA) provides funding for households to cover important items like water, food, first aid, breast-feeding supplies, infant formula, diapers, personal hygiene items, fuel for transportation or other emergency supplies for eligible households.

1. To qualify for SNA, you must be displaced, need shelter or have other emergency costs due to the disaster on your application.

Displacement Assistance (DA) provides people with up-front funds to assist with immediate housing options of their choice, to keep people housed. The money can be used to stay in a hotel, with family and friends or other options.

1. Serious Needs Assistance and Displacement Assistance are both funded after a completed inspection confirms eligibility.

For those who cannot or do not wish to go to the Disaster Recovery Center, the following are resources available and how to get information or apply by calling the state’s 24/7 Fire Hotline at 1-833-663-4736 or visit dhsem.nm.gov/nmwildfires. 

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Will resume work tomorrow, June 25, 2024

Meet at the Tribal Offices flag poles at 7AM

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For those having feast in July 2024 only Tuesday 6/25/24 530PM Tribal Council Chambers

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Daily Update, Monday, June 24, 2024

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 – 17,551; Salt – 7,816                                    

Start Date: June 17, 2024 

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

Personnel: 1,002

Containment: South Fork – 37%; Salt – 7% 

Fuels: mixed conifer, grass, pine/juniper  

Resources: The South Fork and Salt fires are currently staffed with 19 crews, 8 helicopters, 71 engines, 14 bulldozers, and 23 water tenders. 

Highlights: Information regarding the South Fork and Salt fires, status of the surrounding communities, and other updates were provided on Sunday at the Community Meeting Facebook Live Stream. For those interested in accessing the recording, visit https://www.facebook.com/SWIMT5. 

Fire Activity: Widespread precipitation caused localized flooding and limited firefighter access to areas across the South Fork and Salt fires on Sunday. Today, crews will focus on mop-up, clearing snags, hazard tree operations and securing the perimeter where conditions allow. Incident personnel will also continue structural assessments in neighborhoods and the fire area.  

While fire behavior has reduced to smoldering and creeping in heavy duff and dead/down fuels, fire activity and smoke can increase in interior pockets of unburned fuel as warmer weather moves into the region. Residents and others traveling within the fire area should continue taking extra precautions as emergency vehicles, engines and equipment continue to travel and work along roadways.  

Weather: The potential for scattered storms reduces slightly for Monday. Temperatures will be above normal with light winds. Scattered showers and thunderstorm potential will increase later in the week. After several days of rain, flash flooding and debris flows can occur faster and more abruptly, posing a safety concern for firefighters and the public. 

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. Use www.lincolncountynm.gov and www.ruidoso-nm.gov/south-fork-fire for the latest information. More information available from the Lincoln County Emergency Operations Center at 575-258-6900.  

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. It is illegal for the public to fly drones within the fire area, including around private residences, businesses or other areas. 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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Fire updates on South Fork Fire & Salt Fire will be provided Monday, June 24, 2024 at 2:30PM outside of the Mescalero Community Center. This meeting will be in-person only.

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Daily Update, Sunday, June 23, 2024

Public Information Line:575-323-8258 or 575-323-8378 

Media Information Line: 575-323-8053 

Phone Line Hours: 8 am – 8 pm 

Email: 2024.southfork@firenet.gov  

Acres: South Fork – 17,551; Salt – 7,775

Start Date: June 17, 2024 

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

Personnel: 1,114 

Containment: South Fork – 31%; Salt – 7% 

Fuels: mixed conifer, grass, pine/juniper   

Resources:  22 Crews, 88 Engines, 13 dozers, and 18 water tenders. Aircraft remain available for bucket and retardant drops if the need arises, and conditions allow.  

Highlights: Southwest Area Incident Management Team 5 will host a Community Meeting Facebook Live event on Sunday June 23, 2024, at 5pm MDT at https://www.facebook.com/SWIMT5 with representatives from Lincoln County, Ruidoso Police Department, NM State Police, Red Cross, PNM, Windstream, Mescalero Apache Telephone, Tri-State Electric, Otero Co Electric.     

Unsanctioned drone use puts responders and the public at risk because of the potential for accidents and disruption of suppression operations. A Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) is still in place over the South Fork and Salt fire area. The TFR prohibits any and all drone use by the public, as they are considered aircraft under federal law.   

As evacuations and closures are lifted, extra precautions should be exercised as emergency and fire vehicles, engines and equipment continue to travel and work along roadways and incident personnel work and travel within neighborhoods.   

Fire Activity: The South Fork and Salt fires saw additional precipitation on Saturday, making it difficult for crews to access some areas due to unsafe conditions. On Sunday, weather conditions will allow firefighters to continue securing the perimeter and responding to hot spots within the interior of the fire area.   

These fires are a long-duration event, and as such, as weather changes occur and temperatures increase, fire activity will increase in unburned pockets of fuel, including stumps and downed trees. As these fuels reignite, smoke may be visible.  

Damage and structure assessments are still being conducted. Crews will be available to respond to any new starts and flare ups as needed.   

Weather: The potential for scattered storms exists today as warmer weather moves into the area. Temperatures will warm to above normal and winds will be mostly light.  

Smoke: Light smoke was seen on both the South Fork and Salt fires on Saturday. Smoke production will remain light to moderate on Sunday. More variable wind direction, especially during the morning, may lead to light smoke and moderate air quality at times for all locations around the fires. Additional details are available at https://outlooks.wildlandfiresmoke.net/outlook/430b2c05.  

Evacuations: Evacuation and closure status are transitioning. Use www.lincolncountynm.gov and www.ruidoso-nm.gov/south-fork-fire for the latest information. Contact the Lincoln County Emergency Operations Center at 575-258-6900 if you have questions.   

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 also in place over the fire area. Visit https://www.tfr.faa.gov for more information. Drone flights are also prohibited within this area. If you fly, we may have to ground our air resources.

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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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!

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South Fork and Salt Fires community meeting to take place tomorrow, June 23, 2024, at 5 PM. The meeting will be broadcasted for evacuees at the Inn of the Mountain Gods and the Mescalero Apache Community Center.

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