Little Bear Fire swells to 26,000 acres

RUIDOSO, N.M. (KRQE) - As of Sunday night, some of the evacuations in place for residents of Rancho Ruidoso were lifted. However, people living in the Upper Canyon were notified via a reverse 911 to be on alert to evacuate at a moments notice.

According to the NM Fire Information website, it's estimated that as many as 35 structures have burned so far.

The weather on Sunday made it once again difficult for crews trying to tame the Little Bear Fire.

However, even with the whipping winds, firefighters are making some gains in some areas.

View Little Bear Fire Photo Gallery>>

It may not seem like much has changed in the last 48 hours in Ruidoso, but there have been no new evacuations and there is word that the fire is moving toward an area where it might be easier to fight.

"There was some good work conducted on the eastern part of the fire and crews hope to have a little bit more control on that and be able to do some good work here and stopping this fire,” Joel Arnwine said.

The eastern part of the fire is a couple of miles from the Sierra Blanca Airport, heading toward Fort Stanton and south of Capitan.

Crews think they can make gains here because the terrain goes from steep and tree covered to falter and grassy.

"We’ve got engines, dozers and hand crews out there…all of them working on building, constructing fire line,” Arnwine said.

That's where crews are focusing a lot of their efforts Sunday.

Another priority is putting out hotspots in some of the mountain subdivisions the fire has already spread through.

"We haven't had the opportunity to go in and determine if those are houses, primary residences, garages barns out buildings or if they've just been damaged or destroyed…that will take place in the next five-seven days,” Arnwine said.

Between the smoke and the blazes volatility, the fire managers say it is not safe enough to send firefighters in to get a more accurate idea of the damage.

That has people who had to leave their homes behind waiting and wondering.

"No… I have no idea [what happened to my home]" Elaine Grimes said.

People from the evacuated areas all want to know when they can get back in their homes, at this point officials are saying it is not safe enough.

Video from Ski Apache, just outside Ruidoso, shows smoke from the Little Bear Fire pouring into the ski area.

Crews there have been using snow blowers to blow artificial snow in an effort to wet down the area just in case the flames make it there.

According to the latest map of the fire's footprint, Ski Apache is very close to the fire's southern edge.

Also 45 people spent the night in Red Cross shelters Saturday night.

But the organization says they're feeding even more evacuees.

They say a lot of those forced from their homes are staying in hotels or with family and friends.

There is a shelter set up at Ruidoso High School and another at Trinity Baptist Church in Capitan.

Governor Martinez also attended a public meeting late Sunday afternoon for concerned citizens in Ruidoso.

Another meeting is scheduled for Sunday night in Capitan.

It will be held at the Capitan fairgrounds at 7 p.m.

Evacuations updated at 6 p.m. Sunday:

• All campgrounds West of Bonito Lake
• Villa Madonna Subdivision
• Enchanted Forest
• Nogal Canyon (Forest Road 400 Campground and Summer homes)
• Eagle Lakes Campground
• Eagle Creek Summer Homes
• Ski Run Road at Mile Marker 3
• State Highway 532
• Angus
• Sierra Vista
• Sontara (1,2 and 3)
• Copper Canyon
• Loma Grande
• Highway 48 to Capitan
• Highway 37 to Highway 380
• Ski Apache

Shelters:

• First Baptist Church on Country Club
• Community Methodist Church
• Senior Center at Ruidoso Downs
• Church of Christ on Sudderth
• Trinity Baptist Church in Capitan.
• Animals and livestock can be taken to J & J Country Church in Ruidoso or the Fairgrounds in Capitan.
   

Road closures:

• State Highway 532 (Ski Run Road) at mile marker 3,
• State Highway 48 to Capitan
• State Highway 37 to Highway 380