Deadly Ruidoso wildfires now at least 84% contained

RUIDOSO, N.M. — The South Fork Fire and the Salt Fire are at least 84 percent contained as of Monday, and neither fire has grown since last week.

• South Fork Fire: 17,569 acres (was 17,556 acres Tuesday, June 25; was 16,349 Thursday evening, June 20; Tuesday evening, June 18; 5,252 acres Monday evening, June 17)
• Salt fire: 7,939 acres (was 7,947 acres Tuesday, June 25; was 7,652 Thursday evening, June 20; was 7,071 acres Tuesday evening, June 18; was 3,102 acres Monday evening, June 17)

The South Fork Fire is now at 87% containment. The Salt Fire is at 84% containment. These numbers are as of Wednesday, July 3. The South Fork Fire was at 73% containment on Friday, 69% on Thursday, 64% on Wednesday and 54% on Tuesday. The Salt Fire was at 71% containment on Friday, compared to 66% on Thursday, 55% on Wednesday and 38% on Tuesday.

As of Tuesday, June 25, there were 1,006 personnel assigned to the South Fork and Salt fires. As of July 3, there were 532 personnel.

Crews reported that rain and high humidity minimized growth of the South Fork and Salt fires in the Ruidoso area.

The FBI is currently assisting state, federal and tribal investigators in determining how the fires started. The FBI is asking anyone with information that could help with its investigation to call 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324). A reward is being offered.

Impact

Authorities estimate the fires have affected about 1,400 structures. The fires have claimed the lives of two people, New Mexico State Police confirmed Wednesday.

NMSP said they found a person dead inside a burned vehicle on Rainier Road in Ruidoso. They did not identify the person because of the condition police found them in.

NMSP also said they found a man dead with extensive burns near the Swiss Chalet Motel in Ruidoso, 60-year-old Patrick Pearson.

The New Mexico Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management is offering debris removal services to victims of wildfires and floods. Affected residents are eligible. You can register in person at:

• Roswell Civic and Convention Center
• Horton Complex in Ruidoso
• Mescalero Apache School

You can also call 1-833-663-4736.

FEMA has also activated transitional housing assistance for eligible households in Lincoln and Otero counties, as well as the Mescalero Apache Reservation. All residents who applied for assistance are eligible to stay temporarily in a hotel or motel, paid for by FEMA. The criteria are:

Evacuations

Ruidoso and Ruidoso Downs are reopened. If you are returning, officials advise you to bring at least a week's worth of food and water. Evacuation centers, such as ENMU-Roswell, allow evacuees to choose from a variety of food and water options.

“The city of Roswell and all the residents have been very grateful for their donations. So we don’t need them. They have access to everything they need,” said Martha Stabb of ENMU.

If you are having difficulty locating a loved one due to previous evacuations, the Village of Ruidoso is directing people to these resources:

Evacuation sites on the Mescalero Apache Reservation will close on Sunday, June 30. All donations and tribal distribution of donated items to those affected will take place at the Inn of the Mountain Gods Convention Center from 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. daily.

Some areas of Ruidoso were blocked off because authorities said they were unsafe or under investigation. Crews were searching for about 30 people, but all were accounted for.

Lincoln County Executive Randall Camp said traffic checkpoints have been removed, but he advised residents to be careful when returning home.

“It’s not like it used to be and it’s very dangerous. There’s a lot of nails and rusty metal, you don’t really know what’s in there. Don’t start removing the debris until the FEMA crew gets there because they’ll help you remove it,” Camp said at a community meeting Wednesday.

Local post offices in Ruidoso and the surrounding area have reopened for you to send and receive your mail. All you need is your photo ID.

If you are returning home, city officials ask that you please refer to this return map. They plan to lift the exclusion zones, with the exception of Cedar Creek. Camp said the area is at high risk for flooding.

The village also advises you to be wary of contractors who claim to be “FEMA approved.” Village officials say there is no such thing as a “FEMA approved contractor.”

FEMA has also partnered with the State of New Mexico to open a disaster recovery center at the Roswell Civic and Convention Center. They are providing one-on-one assistance to affected residents. State and federal personnel and other resources will be on hand to assist people. The center is open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Community Response

If you're wondering how to help those affected by the fire, we have a current list here:

The Village of Ruidoso also has a current list of drop-off and distribution sites here.

Fire intervention

The Bureau of Indian Affairs, Mescalero, U.S. Forest Service, Lincoln County, Otero County, the Village of Ruidoso, Ruidoso Downs and the state Division of Forestry all responded with air tankers and ground resources, such as bulldozers, heavy equipment and engines.

Background

The Salt Fire started Monday, June 17, on the Mescalero Apache Reservation in Otero County, southwest of Ruidoso. The Salt Fire covered approximately 1,751 acres as of 7:24 p.m. and 35 acres as of 5:15 p.m.

The South Fork Fire was first reported at 9 a.m. Monday, June 17, on the Mescalero Apache Reservation west of Ruidoso. Officials estimated it was 20 acres around 1 p.m. Monday, but its growth exploded. By 7 p.m., the fire had grown to about 2,250 acres, then to 4,156 acres a half-hour later.

The explosive growth prompted a mandatory evacuation of the entire village of Ruidoso around 6:48 p.m. Authorities warned the fire was heading straight toward the village.

“We were getting ready to sit down for a meal and the alert came out: evacuate immediately, don’t take anything and don’t plan on taking anything, just evacuate,” said resident Mary Lou Minic. “And within three to five minutes, we were in the car and leaving.”

The Ruidoso Convention Center was the evacuation center. However, it had to be moved to Capitan High School due to mandatory evacuations. Officials also directed people to the homes of loved ones outside the affected area or to Roswell.

As a reminder, if you see hot ash spots or an active fire, call 911.

The Tularosa Basin Regional Dispatch Authority handles 911 calls for the Village of Ruidoso, Ruidoso Downs and the Mescalero Apache Reservation. Call them if you need help.

Team 5 of the South-West zone took charge of the fire on Wednesday June 19 at 6 a.m.