

Essential employees (Tribal employees) must report to duty 6/18/24.
Tribal employees who are not considered essential employees are highly encouraged to volunteer at one of the evacuation centers.
Volunteer sites are Mescalero Community Center or IMG Convention Center and report to Site Supervisor.
Site Supervisor for Mescalero Community Center: Alvin Benally
Evacuation Center at Inn of the Mountain Gods Convention Center is available for ANYONE, Tribal or non-tribal, they are gearing up for evacuees. As well as, Mescalero Community Center is available for evacuees.
There is a fire near Gaines Well.
Please be aware: officials have closed Highway 70.
All residents on the east side of Botella Road have been evacuated as well as Fantasy lane, Summit area, Botella Road, Snow Springs, Fence Canyon, Whitetail, and Chihuahua Well need to evacuate immediately.
The Tribe is receiving reports of multiple additional fires on the Reservation. Stay away from fire locations. Keep clear of emergency vehicles. Report any suspicious behavior.
Livestock can be held at the Mescalero Rodeo Grounds, for those in need. Call 575-973-1394 if you need help with hauling your livestock.
Donations can be taken to the Mescalero Community Center Gym. Physical address: 108 Central Ave Mescalero, NM 88340
CHR will be on call for Elderly needing assistance. They can be reached at 575-464-9256 or 575-464-4058.
All residence who live on or near:
Snow Springs
Fence Canyon
Whitetail
Chihuahua Well
Summit area
Botella Road
Need to evacuate immediately
The Mescalero conservation will also be going home to home to notify residents.
Should you need a place to go, the Evacuation Center is at the Mescalero Community Center.
Livestock can be held at the Mescalero Rodeo Grounds, for those in need. Call 575-973-1394 if you need help with hauling your livestock.
Donations can taken to the Mescalero Community Center Gym. Physical address: 108 Central Ave Mescalero, NM 88340
Fire near Gaines Well.
Officials have closed Highway 70. Highway 70 is closed from Botella Road to Highway 244.
Residents east of Botella Road are evacuating.
Residents at Chatto Ridge are on “ready” status.
Apache Summit is being evacuated. Please leave immediately.
Stay clear of emergency vehicles. Stay away from fire locations. Report suspicious activity.
The Tribe is receiving reports of multiple additional fires on the Reservation. Stay away from fire locations. Keep clear of emergency vehicles. Report any suspicious behavior.
An Evacuation Center is available for residents at the Mescalero Community Center Gymnasium.
Livestock can be held at the Mescalero Rodeo Grounds, for those in need. Call 575-973-1394 if you need help with hauling your livestock.
Donations can be taken to the Mescalero Community Center Gym. Physical address: 108 Central Ave Mescalero, NM 88340
CHR will be on call for Elderly needing assistance. They can be reached at 575-464-9256 or 575-464-4058.
This morning at approximately 10:50 a.m., a fire was reported on the Mescalero Apache Indian Reservation near the south fork of the Rio Ruidoso, near Mescalero Cabins and Upper Canyon.
The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) Mescalero Agency is the lead agency responding to this incident and is implementing a “Full Suppression” response. The fire is 18 acres and growing and there is spotting ahead of the fire. Ground resources were pulled back from the fire line because of increased fire activity which made it too dangerous for a direct attack by firefighters – fire suppression is occurring by air only at this time. Currently, there is one hot shot crew, 1 large air tanker, and 3 helicopters on scene. Another large air tanker and another helicopter have been ordered and are on their way. 2 more hotshot crews are en route to the fire.
Upper Canyon and Brady Canyon residents and businesses are being placed on “ready” status.
Please stay out of the area. Do not call 911 for fire updates; please utilize non-emergency numbers.
Acres: .10
Start Date: June 12, 2024
Location: Capitan Mountains, East Mountain
Cause: Lightning
Containment: 50%
Fuels: Single tree snag with brush understory
Personnel: 1 Type-3 engine
ALAMOGORDO, New Mexico, June 17, 2024 – The Mitt Fire, a lighting-strike fire on East Mountain (Capitan Mountains) on the Smokey Bear Ranger District, Lincoln National Forest, continues to show little-to-no growth and remains in the original single-tree snag. The wildfire was detected on June 12, 2024, and was caused by lightning.
The fire is exhibiting low-spread potential, and the probability of impacting values is low.
At this time, a confine/contain strategy of using natural barriers based on values at risk and potential spread is being implemented. Extreme steep terrain and rocky conditions make it unsafe to engage directly. Natural land features are also providing good barriers for the wildfire.
This area historically received multiple lightning strikes per year, and personnel will continue to conduct surveillance throughout the Forest to monitor for any potential lightning-caused wildfires in the area. Throughout the weekend, several single-tree lightning-strike fires were reported and responded to by Lincoln National Forest crews.
Barring any extreme developments, this will be the final update on this incident.