Blue 2 Fire Evening Update – May 25, 2024 — Ruidoso-NM.gov | Municipal Website of the Village of Ruidoso, NM

Current Status: No lives or structures have been lost to the Blue 2 Fire. The full suppression tactics employed today involved extensive ground operations, focusing on scouting control lines and beginning the construction of containment lines. The Albuquerque Type 3 Zone Team will transition leadership to the Complex Incident Management Team 3, with Matt Rau assuming incident command.

High winds today hindered aerial firefighting efforts. An infrared flight conducted on May 24 determined the current size of the fire, 3,249 acres. Smoke remains visible in Ruidoso and Capitan populated areas, and similar weather conditions are expected for the next operational period. A red flag warning issued this afternoon is expected to extend through the weekend, indicating heightened fire danger due to strong winds and dry conditions.

Evacuation Notices:

• Go Now:

  • Loma Grande

  • Bonito Lake Road

  • Forest Service Road 108

  • Forest Service Road 107

  • Villa Madonna Subdivision

  • Forest Service Road 127A, also known as Upper Eagle Creek, off of Ski Run Road and the surrounding area along 523 Ski Run Road

• Be Set:

• Be Ready:

Shelters and Resources:

• Shelters: Lincoln County Fairgrounds, 101 5th St., Capitan, NM 88316

• Animal Shelters: Humane Society of Lincoln County, 25962 US Hwy 70, Ruidoso, NM 88345

Area Closures: Parts of the White Mountain Wilderness Area are currently closed. For more detailed information, please refer to the following link: Closure Update for Trails on White Mountain Wilderness Area – May 22, 2024

Fire Details:

• Start Date / Time: May 17, 2024, approximately 3:45 p.m.

• Cause: Lightning

• Size: 3,249 acres

• Location: White Mountain Wilderness

• Resources: 259 Personnel, more en route

• Vegetation/Fuels: Dead and dead/down trees

• Containment: 0%

• Tactic: Full Suppression

• Smoke: Moderate / Wind Influenced Smoke

For ongoing updates and more information, please visit: