Firefighters hold containment of Ruidoso wildfire despite wind
UPDATE, June 9: RUIDOSO, New Mexico -- As of Wednesday, officials said the Ball Field Fire burning near Ruidoso was 50% contained and holding at 25 acres. In addition, NM Highway 48 has reopened in both directions.
Officials said in a Wednesday afternoon update that 18 firefighters on the ground were "continuing to make sure the fire stays within the containment lines."
"Although there is very little fire activity at the moment, winds are causing an increase in the smoke activity, which is normal," the update indicated.
The Ruidoso Fire Department said windy conditions had also been an issue overnight into the morning for firefighters, who nonetheless managed to keep the wildfire within the containment lines.
"The wind was an issue blowing embers and causing some slop-over, however everything is still burning on the interior of the containment lines at this time," the morning statement from RFD had said.
The fire broke out about 11:30 a.m. Tuesday off of Ski Run Road and Highway 48, above the ball fields in Ruidoso. Authorities asked that people continue to avoid the area of Alto Lake and Ski Run Road as firefighters work in that area to knock down the fire.
The High County Lodge area remained under a mandatory evacuation on Wednesday, while evacuation notices for Upper Gavilan, West Gavilan, Alto Village, Alto Alps, and Sun Valley were lifted for now.
The cause of the fire still has yet to be determined and was under investigation, officials said.
ORIGINAL REPORT, June 8: RUIDOSO, New Mexico -- In the wake of the Three Rivers Fire over a month ago that charred roughly 12,000 acres near Ruidoso, village fire officials reported crews were battling a new wildfire - the Ball Field Fire - that broke out Tuesday.
Fire crews said the active grass fire was burning behind Brewer's Ski Run Shell gas station, located at 101 Ski Run Road and NM Highway 48. (See map at end of this article.) The blaze had grown from two to 25 acres by day's end and was just 25% contained.
The blaze broke out about 11:40 a.m. and authorities urged people to stay away from the area to keep roads accessible for fire crews. Highway 48 was closed from Gavilan Canyon to Ski Run Road due to high winds causing heaving smoke.
There was no immediate word on what may have ignited the blaze, officials said the cause was under investigation.
In addition to firefighters on the ground surrounding the fire perimeter, a helicopter filling up from Alto Lake was also dumping water on the fire to try and keep it from spreading.
The Lincoln County Sheriff's Office ordered residents in the immediate vicinity of the Shell station and the ball fields, as well as guests at the High Country Lodge, to evacuate. Asked to voluntarily evacuate were those in Upper Gavilan, West Gavilan, Alto Village and Alto Alps/Sun Valley. Evacuees were being sent to the Convention Center in Ruidoso.
The Three Rivers Fire that burned in April and May was located west of the Ski Apache ski resort in the Sacramento Mountains and it took weeks for crews to bring it under control. That blaze had also led to evacuations.
