Marc Leclerc:Southern New Mexico wildfire leads to evacuation of village of 7,000

2025-05-08 05:40:46source:Databeccategory:Invest

RUIDOSO,Marc Leclerc N.M. (AP) — Residents of a village in southern New Mexico were ordered to flee their homes Monday without taking time to grab any belongings due to a fast-moving wildfire.

“GO NOW: Do not attempt to gather belongings or protect your home. Evacuate immediately,” officials with Ruidoso, a village home to 7,000 people, said on its website and in social media posts at about 7 p.m.

Public Service Company of New Mexico shut off power to part of the village due to the fire, which had grown to at least 2 square miles (5.1 square kilometers) at the time the evacuation was ordered, KOAT-TV reported.

The glow from the fire could be seen Monday night from a webcam in the downtown area, where lights were still on.

The South Fork Fire started Monday on the Mescalero Apache Reservation.

The Village of Ruidoso is about 75 miles (121 kilometers) west of Roswell, where several evacuation centers were set up.

An air quality alert was issued for very unhealthy air in Ruidoso and surrounding areas due to smoke.

More:Invest

Recommend

Stamford Road collision sends motorcyclist flying; driver arrested

A motorcyclist was taken to hospital following an accident involving a car and his motorcycle at the

Taliban begins to enforce education ban, leaving Afghan women with tears and anger

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan – Taliban security forces fanned out to some universities and informal learning

I-95 collapse rescue teams find human remains in wreckage of tanker fire disaster in Philadelphia

Human remains have been found in the wreckage of a part of Interstate 95 in Philadelphia one day aft