Ruidoso Downs Fire Department

08/11/2026

07/28/2026

Effective 8:00 AM on July 27, 2026, the City of Ruidoso Downs is under Level 1 Fire Restrictions.

05/16/2026

8:28 PM UPDATE
The large animal shelter at the Pageant grounds is closed due to no staffing. If you need assistance with your animals, please contact the Lincoln County Sheriff Office at 575-648-2341

4:40 PM UPDATE
LARGE LIVESTOCK CAN BE TAKEN TO THE PAGEANT GROUNDS IN LINCOLN.

4:07 PM UPDATE
AREAS THAT NEED TO EVACUATE ARE NORTH OF THE CAPITAN MOUNTAINS, OFF STATE HIGHWAY 246 FROM GAP ROAD TO BOY SCOUT MOUNTAIN.

SMALL LIVESTOCK SUCH AS HORSES, GOATS, PIGS AND CHICKENS CAN BE TAKEN TO THE FAIRGROUNDS IN CAPITAN.

CAPITAN IS UNDER NO THREAT, AND NOT UNDER EVACUATION.

05/16/2026 AT 3:32 PM
DUE TO THE CHANGE IN FIRE ACTIVITY OF THE SEVEN CABINS FIRE, RESIDENTS NORTH OF THE CAPITAN MOUNTAINS ARE BEING PUT IN A GO STATUS AT THIS TIME. TEMPORARY SHELTERS ARE BEING SET UP AND WILL BE ANNOUNCED AS SOON AS THEY ARE IN PLACE.

04/07/2026

04/07/2026

The City of Ruidoso Downs will be moving into Fire Restrictions 2 at 8am 4/7/2026 as well as Ruidoso has done today 4/6/2026. Downs Fire will be posting the Restrictions at the local business around town in the morning.

04/07/2026

Update on fire restrictions for the Village. Please remain vigilant!

02/21/2026

The Ruidoso Downs Fire Department would like to congratulate our brothers at the Ruidoso Fire Department on the formation of Local 3545! The establishment of this local represents unity, professionalism, and a continued commitment to protecting those who serve and the communities we are sworn to protect.

We are especially proud of our brother at the Ruidoso Fire Department and stand in full support of their dedication to leadership, service, and the firefighting profession. Strong partnerships and solidarity among departments only strengthen the fire service across our region.

Congratulations again to Local 3545 — we look forward to working alongside you in the years ahead.

The Ruidoso Professional Fire Fighters Association (RPFFA) is proud to announce that we have officially chartered with the International Association of Fire Fighters as IAFF Local 3545.

In a unanimous vote, 22 of 22 eligible firefighters voted in favor of unionizing and filed membership applications with the IAFF. This overwhelming support reflects unity within our department and a shared commitment to protecting the Village of Ruidoso with professionalism, experience, and pride.

To the citizens of Ruidoso:
We are your firefighters. We have stood with this community through the good times and the difficult ones — including the recent wildfires, flooding, and other disasters that have impacted our region. Our mission has not changed.

We stand with you. And we stand for you.

The formation of Local 3545 is about strengthening our department so we can continue providing the highest level of emergency service possible. IAFF affiliation gives our firefighters access to training resources, safety standards, and professional support that ultimately benefit the citizens we serve.

We are deeply grateful for the support this community has shown — not only to us, but to our brothers and sisters throughout Lincoln County and the Mescalero Apache Reservation during recent emergencies. That support matters. It keeps us going.

Our commitment remains clear:
Protect life and property
Maintain professional excellence
Strengthen readiness for natural disasters
Serve the Village of Ruidoso with integrity and accountability
We welcome open communication with our community. Citizens are encouraged to reach out to us on social media or at [email protected] with any questions or concerns.
We look forward to continuing to serve this community with dedication and pride.

Respectfully,
Ruidoso Professional Fire Fighters Association
IAFF Local 3545

02/11/2026

The Ruidoso Downs Fire Department is seeking individuals who are willing to give back to their community.

If you are interested contact the Ruidoso Downs Fire Department at 575-378-1624 or stop by at the station at 122 Downs Drive.