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Fire crews are battling multiple fires across New Mexico that forced some people to evacuate from their homes.

On the Mescalero Apache Reservation, wildland crews are in a race against the clock to contain a 282-acre wildfire before red flag conditions return later this week following a chance of rainfall on Wednesday.

The Sago Fire was discovered around 1 p.m. Thursday on Mescalero grazing lands north of Lincoln National Forest and was roughly 17% contained as of Monday morning, according to .

The fire is burning through juniper, pi帽on and ponderosa pine 18 miles east of the town of Mescalero near the tribe鈥檚 Cow Camp Facilities. While the reservation reported over the weekend that the fire did not threaten any structures, the area is home to horse and cattle herds overseen by the tribe.

The National Weather Service was forecasting a 40% chance of showers on Wednesday, but blustery conditions are expected to bring 40 mph wind gusts by mid-week, with possible red flag conditions predicted for Thursday and Friday.

The Gila Las Cruces Type 3 Incident Management Team is working alongside the tribe to manage logistical challenges presented by the fire鈥檚 remote location. Food and supply deliveries for fire personnel are moving through the Mescalero Agency Apache Summit facility.

More than 100 personnel have been deployed to help fight the wildfire, including the Smokey Bear Hotshots, two water tenders, three bulldozers, nine fire engines and one type 2 initial attack crew 鈥� an 18-20 person team specializing in immediate on-the-ground fire suppression response. Medical resources arrived Sunday morning to provide support amid the fire鈥檚 spread.

Over 170 miles northeast of the reservation, in Guadalupe County, the Perch Fire was discovered around 12:50 p.m. Monday and it resulted in evacuation orders that have since been lifted.

As of about 8:46 p.m., 57.5 acres have been burned with 60% containment, said George Ducker, New Mexico Forestry Division spokesperson, in a news release.

No one was reported injured and the cause of the fire is unknown, Guadalupe County Emergency Manager Noah Jansson said.

鈥淔ire behavior is active and making runs in grass and brush fuels,鈥� Ducker said. 鈥淪pot fires crossed over State Road 91 and the fire is making an eastern push. Structures are threatened, including the Santa Rosa Airport. 鈥楪O鈥� status evacuations are in place for State Road 91, mile marker 1 to 6 on the east side.鈥�

Ducker said air resources have been called in to assist while ground resources are employing full suppression tactics. 

鈥淧lease use caution on (Highway) 91 south,鈥� a Guadalupe County Emergency Services social media post states. 鈥淎void this area if possible. Crews are working to get fire out. Emergency vehicles are in this area.鈥�

Jansson said people are encouraged to go to the Santa Rosa Convention Center, 1085 Blue Hole Road.

Both fires remain under investigation and are two of several early season blazes to spark in New Mexico this month amid extremely dry conditions.

Land and water managers throughout the state hope a second-consecutive year of low snowpack in the region will be tempered by an El Ni帽o climate pattern, which the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicts may arrive by June.

John Miller is the sa国际传媒官网网页入口鈥檚 northern New Mexico correspondent. He can be reached at jmiller@abqjournal.com.

Gregory R.C. Hasman is a general assignment reporter and the Road Warrior. He can be reached at ghasman@abqjournal.com or 505-823-3820.