Two rapidly expanding wildfires are converging on a village within the Mescalero Apache tribal reservation in New Mexico, leading to the evacuation of thousands of residents.
South Fork Fire
The South Fork Fire, which ignited on Monday on Mescalero Apache tribal land, nearly tripled in size overnight. By Tuesday morning, it had scorched almost 14,000 acres.
Salt Fire
Meanwhile, the Salt Fire, burning south of the village of Ruidoso, has consumed nearly 5,000 acres. Authorities report that both fires are currently 0% contained.
Evacuation Orders
On Monday evening, officials in Ruidoso, a village home to 7,800 people, urged residents to evacuate immediately due to the imminent threat posed by the fires.
Threat to Structures
New Mexico Forestry officials have indicated that multiple structures are at risk of being destroyed, and an unknown number of structures have already been lost. The situation remains critical as firefighting efforts continue.
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