Ruidoso OEM News:

An emergency mandatory GO evacuation was issued at 6:48 p.m. today for the entire Village of Ruidoso due to the South Fork Fire.

The Ruidoso Office of Emergency Management (OEM) is monitoring the fire burning on the Mescalero Apache reservation, approximately 2-3 miles from the Village of Ruidoso limits, specifically near the Upper Canyon area.

The South Fork Fire was first reported around 10:50 a.m. today and has now burned about 5,000 acres.

The Smokey Bear Hot Shots are actively responding to the fire, and interagency dispatch ordered an air attack to combat the blaze. Due to these air operations, a Type 1 helicopter has been ordered to assist the others in water drops. A large air tanker and another Hot Shot crew have also been ordered for slurry drops.

Aircraft will be drawing water from Grindstone Lake. As a result, Grindstone Lake operations are closed to facilitate the air attack.

View tonight of Village of Ruidoso filled with smoke and the sky illuminated from the South Fork Fire visible in the background. Courtesy/www.ruidoso.net webcam