TUESDAY, JUNE 25, 2024, AS OF 2:00 PM EST
As of Tuesday, June 25, 36 large, uncontained fires are active across numerous states and have collectively burned more than 190,700 acres, according to the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC). The largest of these wildfires are the South Fork and Salt fires in New Mexico. Both fires began on Monday, June 17, and have since spread to 17,556 acres and 7,947 acres, respectively. The South Fork fire remains only 54 percent contained, and the Salt fire remains only 38 percent contained as of Tuesday, June 25. So far this year, 20,176 wildfires have burned 2,223,801 acres across the United States (US), surpassing the 10-year averages for total acres burned across the country. Additionally, officials at the National Weather Service’s (NWS) Weather Prediction Center (WPC) forecast the ongoing heat wave will continue, impacting multiple states across the Plains and Southeast US throughout the week of Monday, June 24. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) NWS, on Tuesday, June 25, more than 64.3 million people in the US were under an active extreme heat advisory, watch, or warning.
#NationalFireNews: Nationwide, there are currently 16 uncontained large fires being fully suppressed, and 19 being managed under strategies other than full suppression.
Approximately 7,000 wildland firefighters and support personnel are assigned to incidents across the country. pic.twitter.com/SHuGBn73ol— National Interagency Fire Center (@NIFC_Fire) June 24, 2024
X: NIFC
New Mexico Wildfires
The South Fork and Salt fires are located approximately 75 miles west of Roswell, New Mexico, near the Village of Ruidoso in the Lincoln National Forest. Both fires originated on the Mescalero Apache Reservation and are not considered contained as of Tuesday, June 25. The South Fork fire, which was first reported on Monday, June 17, reached 15,000 acres within 24 hours, prompting immediate response from the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) Mescalero Agency and local wildland firefighters from surrounding jurisdictions. The fires have damaged or destroyed at least 1,400 structures and resulted in at least two fatalities. Since Monday, June 17, the Red Cross has provided 1,760 overnight stays for more than 565 evacuated residents of the areas surrounding the fires. On Tuesday, June 18, New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan declared a state of emergency for Lincoln County and the Mescalero Apache Reservation.
While the fires were initially forecasted to grow quickly due to the region’s high temperatures and dry vegetation, rain and high humidity slowed the growth of both fires between Tuesday, June 18, and Thursday, June 20. Evacuation orders were lifted on Monday, June 24; however, there are still no entry and exclusion zones throughout the Village of Ruidoso. Governor Grisham’s request for a major disaster declaration was granted by President Joe Biden on Thursday, June 20. At least eight shelters for evacuated residents remain operational in Capitan, Carrizozo, Alamogordo, Roswell, and Mescalero, as well as an additional eight shelters for animals and livestock. Two distribution centers providing food, water, and personal hygiene items are currently open for returning Ruidoso residents, with an additional distribution center opening on Tuesday, June 25.
According to local officials, fire containment activities continue as 12 crews, eight helicopters, 61 engines, nine bulldozers, and 18 water tenders work to address residual heat sources. Despite large amounts of vegetative fuels, the fire’s growth has been deemed minimal at this time. The cause of the fires remains undetermined, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is offering a $10,000 reward for information related to the cause and potential persons responsible for starting the fires.
Regional Heat Dome
Beginning on Sunday, June 16, an ongoing significant heat wave has impacted millions of people across the Midwest, Northeast, Plains, and South regions of the US. By the first day of summer, Thursday, June 20, at least 20 cities across the US had already broken or tied temperature records while nearly 100 million people were under an excessive heat advisory, according to NOAA. On Saturday, June 22, numerous record-breaking temperatures were recorded in Reno, Nevada, at 101 degrees; Baltimore, Maryland, at 101 degrees; and Washington, DC, at 100 degrees.
Dangerous #heat continues this week across parts of the Plains and South, with relief for some by midweek. For information on staying cool & safe visit https://t.co/c3ifZjH9Z1 and check local media and government websites for cooling center information. pic.twitter.com/EJ65pLPiRp
— NWS Weather Prediction Center (@NWSWPC) June 24, 2024
X: NWS WPC
The risks of this latest heat wave have been intensified by a heat dome, which can create “oven-like conditions” and increase daily temperatures. According to NOAA, heat domes are caused by a “band of fast-moving winds high in the atmosphere that move in meandering wavelike patterns,” creating a high-pressure heat trap that can last for days or weeks. The NWS WPC is forecasting extreme temperatures to persist as the heat dome moves over the Plains, Southeast, and Mid-South, with temperatures during the week of Tuesday, June 25, to Saturday, June 29, in the mid-to-upper 90s, potentially resulting in some cities exceeding a heat index of 110 degrees. The NWS HeatRisk Index – which tracks the risk of heat-related impacts – indicates many areas of the country at a Level Four, or extreme level, as of Tuesday, June 25, signifying dangerous conditions for individuals without access to necessary cooling or hydration. Officials at NWS WPC predict potential relief for the Midwestern and Mid-Southern regions as a cold front is predicted to arrive on Wednesday, June 26.
Wildfire Safety
Stay Informed Before a Wildfire: Ready.Gov
Wildfires can occur anywhere in the country at any time, spreading quickly and unpredictably. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) urges individuals and communities to take preventive measures to protect their property and loved ones in the event of a wildfire emergency.
- Set up real-time, local alerts in the FEMA app and determine other ways that you can receive time sensitive notifications to keep you safe.
- Make (and practice!) an emergency plan to include how to quickly access your disaster supplies kit, the safest evacuation routes, and the needs of pets under your care.
- Take time to review, update, and ensure safe storage of important documentation related to your household’s or business’ financial, legal, insurance, medical, and other personal information.
Additionally, summer months can bring extreme heat – a period of at least two to three days of high humidity and temperatures exceeding 90 degrees – to areas across the US. FEMA urges individuals living in areas impacted by extreme heat to take necessary safety measures in preparation for and during heat waves, including finding indoor locations to stay cool, staying hydrated and avoiding strenuous activities, and learning how to recognize the signs of heat illness.