Rain expected as South Fork Fire and Salt Fire continue to grow near Ruidoso

As efforts to fight wildfires in Ruidoso continue, winds from incoming thunderstorms could make it harder to contain both the South Fork Fire and Salt Fire.

The South Fork Fire is at 16,335 acres, while the Salt Fire is at 7,071 acres, and both are at 0% containment, according to a post by the Village of Ruidoso Wednesday, June 19.

An estimated 500 structures have been destroyed in the Ruidoso fires, officials said.

Ruidoso weather

Thunderstorms will move into the region on Wednesday, June 19, creating sudden wind shifts, which could be problematic, according to Jason Laney with the National Weather Service.

“These wind gusts can be not only very strong but very erratic in nature,” Laney said. “This can be especially dangerous for firefighting efforts on the ground and fire behavior can increase rapidly and without much warning.”

The general direction of winds will also shift from southwest to northeast, to southeast to northwest, resulting in fires changing course, Laney said.

Massive air attacks announced by officials with the Village of Ruidoso could also be hindered due to thunderstorms.

While incoming storms will benefit the region, some areas can receive heavy rain, while others may receive little to none, Laney said. Some storms may produce up to an inch of rain on Wednesday, while total rainfall from Thursday and Friday will be significantly less.

More: South Fork Fire continues to burn near Ruidoso. Here's what the fire looks like in NM

South Fork Fire latest

Crews worked overnight to stop the fire from spreading near structures. While flames continue to spread, air resources will be active, according to officials. The fire response will be divided into three divisions: south, east, and northeast.

The South Fork Fire was first discovered at 9 a.m. Monday, June 17, on tribal land along the Rio Ruidoso near Ruidoso, N.M., according to the New Mexico Forestry Division.

At that time, the fire had quickly burned across 18 acres, creating dangerous conditions for ground resources, according to the Mescalero Apache Tribe.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Salt Fire latest

While the South Fork Fire continues to spread exponentially, the Salt Fire has slowed its progression overnight, according to the Village of Ruidoso. The blaze is now making its way through mountainous terrain south of the village.

The Salt Fire was first reported about 2 p.m. on Monday, June 17, on the Mescalero Apache Reservation near Botella Road adjacent to HWY 70.

The cause of the Salt Fire also remains under investigation.

Ruidoso remains closed

While the village remains under a mandatory emergency evacuation, roads heading into Ruidoso are closed. New Mexico State Police have roadblocks at all entry points and will not allow drivers to pass.

This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Thunderstorm winds to challenge fire containment efforts near Ruidoso