Two fast-moving wildfires in southern New Mexico that forced the evacuation of thousands of people and burned more than 20,000 acres continued to burn out of control Wednesday, officials said, and it was not unclear when firefighters might take some control.
The fires, called the South Fork and Salt fires, started earlier this week amid sweltering temperatures in the region, and weather changes Wednesday could further complicate efforts to contain them.
Temperatures are expected to reach the mid-80s in parts of southern New Mexico, with a chance of showers and thunderstorms beginning in the afternoon, the National Weather Service said. But expected winds of up to 15 miles per hour could cause the fire to spread.
HAS a press conference on TuesdayGov. Michelle Lujan Grisham of New Mexico highlighted how dangerous the wildfires had become in a short period of time.
“We have two devastating, huge fires,” she said. “When I say huge, I mean they’re getting more and more complicated to solve.”
The expected combination of rain and wind Wednesday was both good and bad news, Laura McCarthy, a New Mexico state forester, said at the same news conference. “It also means that this fire will be dynamic, at least until we see the precipitation amounts materialize,” she said, adding that rising winds could also put homes at risk.
Gov. Grisham, who declared a state of emergency in Lincoln County and the Mescalero Apache Reservation due to the fires, called the situation “very serious,” adding that displacement in the southern region of the The state was not only discouraged, but also impossible due to the roads. closures.
As of Tuesday evening, wildfires posed a clear threat to residents of southern New Mexico, particularly the village of Ruidoso, located between the two fires. At least one person died as a result of the fires, a state official said, although no additional details about the death were available.
The largest fire, the South Fork Fire, burned more than 15,000 acres, destroyed 1,400 structures and was zero percent contained. according to New Mexico fire information. The fire was discovered around 9 a.m. Monday morning in the Mescalero Apache Tribal Area and grew quickly, officials said.
The second fire, the Salt Fire, was discovered a few miles away Monday afternoon and has since burned more than 5,500 acres of tribal land in mostly inaccessible mountainous areas.
About 8,000 people had been evacuated from Ruidoso and the surrounding area as of Tuesday evening, the New Mexico State Forestry Division said.
During the press conference, Governor Grisham was asked if she knew of anyone trapped or missing in the massive rush to safety.
“I don’t have a precise number, I don’t know if anyone does,” she said. “Again, if you think a loved one is in danger, we want to know, we want to do everything we can.”
