NewMexicoConservativeNews.com reports that yet another wild fire has swept through a section of Lincoln County. This area is near Ruidoso and is considered by locals as fire country. This occurs as the summer fire season begins. Portions of civil war-era Fort Stanton, a historical site in southern New Mexico, are reported as burnt. The fire damaged structures at Fort Stanton historical site. These structures were built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930’s. A gym was erected by Germans interned at the site during the second world war after their ship sank.

The fire has forced the evacuations of campgrounds and a horse ranch.

Ground crews, air tankers, and helicopters united above Alamogordo, New Mexico, and beyond. They joined efforts to contain a blaze. The fire scorched more than a square mile (3 sq km) of terrain at the site. It also affected surrounding conservation lands managed by the federal Bureau of Land Management (BLM).

Laura Rabon, a spokesperson for a multi-agency team responding to the situation, said crews cleared lines of vegetation. This occurred on Monday on the north side of the wildfire. Helicopters doused smoldering hot spots with water. The fire is now contained at 50%.

Crews managed to better map the fire perimeter today, and the new total acreage is 720. Most of the burned acres occurred yesterday as there was minimal fire spread today. Fire-lines continue to hold. Helicopters made targeted water drops on hot spots still smoldering. Fire crews removed burning material near the control lines. This action was to reduce the chance of it escaping control lines. This also helps to prevent reigniting. Smoke is still seen in the area.

The blaze at Fort Stanton is about 15 miles away from communities at Ruidoso. These communities were ravaged last year. Several hundred homes and businesses were destroyed. Those fires were followed by devastating flooding and erosion in scorched areas.

Evacuations continue for the Fort Stanton, Rob Jagger’s Campground, and the Rio Bonito and West Mesa Road dispersed camping areas. Fort Stanton is closed to the public. Highway 220 is closed in the Fort Stanton area. Closures and evacuations will be reassessed daily.

BLM Roswell District, Lincoln County and the NM Forestry Division are all under fire restrictions or a burn ban. Campfires of any kind (wood, charcoal, wood stoves) are prohibited. Chainsaw use and smoking outdoors are also not allowed. Operating motorized vehicles off designated roads and welding are prohibited.

Full fire restrictions information: https://www.emnrd.nm.gov/sfd/find-current-fire-restrictions/ Those sensitive to wildfire smoke should take precautions. They should use the New Mexico Department of Health 5-3-1 Visibility Method. This will help figure out if it’s safe to be outside. 

Learn more at https://nmtracking.doh.nm.gov/environment/air/FireAndSmoke.html.

An interactive smoke map at https://fire.airnow.gov/ allows you to zoom into your area to see the latest smoke conditions. 

More Information:

Lincoln County Emergency Management Fire Service Facebook: www.facebook.com/lincolncountyfireservice/

Fort Stanton Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1542361062890694/?_rdr