Officials in New Mexico are warning residents to avoid drinking public water as wildfires continue to burn out of control.
New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham declared a state of emergency on Monday due to uncontained fires in the southern part of her state consuming approximately 20,000 acres since Monday.
At least one person had been killed as a result of the "South Fork" and "Salt" fires, a spokesperson for the governor told the Associated Press on Tuesday. The entire village of Ruidoso was also forced to evacuate, with the inferno causing over 500 incidents of property damage.
Amid the devastation, officials from the New Mexico Department of Health and the New Mexico Environment Department's Drinking Water Bureau issued a precautionary water advisory for over 24,000 residents in areas touched by the fires due to potential contamination.
The advisory applies to the following public water systems: Ruidoso Water System, Alto Lakes Water & Sanitation District, Tall Pines Water Association, Cedar Creek, Alpine Village, Smokey Bear Ranger Station, High Country Lodge, Eagle Creek Shell Convenience Store and Eagle Creek Sports Complex.
"Residents using these water systems are advised to seek alternative drinking water sources to ensure public health and safety," a news release from the New Mexico Environment Department states. "Water from these systems can be used for other activities, such as washing clothes and dishes, and general nondrinking uses."
"Avoid bathing infants and young children with this water," it continues. "People who are immunocompromised/immunosuppressed, and/or have open cuts, wounds, or sores should not use the water to bathe until notified that the water is safe."
A spokesperson for the New Mexico Environment Department declined Newsweek's request for comment via email, explaining that no additional information was available concerning the advisory as of Tuesday night.
Officials also urged residents who operate private wells in areas near the fires to test their water for bacteria and other potential contaminants at a certified drinking water laboratory, pointing out that private wells are not regulated by the state.
Lujan Grisham vowed to dedicate "every resource available" to contain the two "enormous" and entirely uncontained fires during a news conference on Tuesday. She also urged residents to steer clear of the fire areas.
"These are very serious fires," the governor said. "Traveling in and around that eastern, southeastern part of the state is not only not allowable right now with road closures, but it's discouraged even where roads are open."
"We don't want people in those areas trying to garner information out of context and putting their own lives at risk," she added. "When you do that, you potentially put other lives at risk, and we're trying to minimize that in this response."
While the fires raging near Ruidoso had caused the most damage, several dozen other wildfires have been burning across New Mexico this week. Many other areas in the western U.S. were also under "Red Flag Warnings" due to weather conditions that could help fires intensify.
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Aila Slisco is a Newsweek night reporter based in New York. Her focus is on reporting national politics, where she ... Read more
