Ruidoso wildfires leave devastation; 2 deaths confirmed, all missing accounted for
Homes charred to the ground, pine trees once standing tall now collapsed and cars completely burned: images shared in a recent video of a Ruidoso neighborhood reduced to rubble by destructive wildfires.
The Facebook video posted by the village of Ruidoso on Thursday, June 27, illustrates the devastation left behind by the South Fork Fire in the Upper Canyon area, just one of many communities impacted by the blaze.
The South Fork Fire and Salt Fire began on Mescalero tribal land June 17, and the causes remain under investigation.
The South Fork Fire and Salt Fire affected over 25,000 acres and fires are 77% containment as of Saturday, June 30, according to the village of Ruidoso.
The FBI is offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the person or people responsible for starting the deadly fires.
Missing all accounted for
Residents who were once displaced have returned as areas previously closed off for search and rescue teams are now open. However, some parts of the village remain "no entry/exclusion zones," according to a public map released on Friday, June 28.
Two deaths have been linked to the fires, and all missing people are now accounted for, Ruidoso Mayor Lynn Crawford said at a Thursday, June 27, community meeting. Fire chief Ernie Rhodes with FEMA Urban Search and Rescue added that search and rescue teams, with 20 cadaver dogs, combed through an estimated 1,300 burned structures for possible human remains, but none were found.
Weather impacting fire containment
Monsoon storms have become frequent in the region, and rain has helped and harmed efforts to contain the South Fork and Salt fires.
There has been no forward progression of the wildfires, said Brad Johnson, incident commander with the Southwest Incident Management Team.
Containment in the South Fork Fire in the Ruidoso community is steady, Johnson said, but the Mescalero reservation remains a challenge because of the rugged terrain.
Storms also impact when fire crews can work on the ground.
"As we all know, the storms come in during the afternoon," he said. "We try to get people up and into the mountains early, and as weather conditions come in, we bring people off the fire."
Rain chances will increase again over the weekend, with slow-moving storms capable of producing high rain rates and flash floods, according to the village of Ruidoso.
Ruidoso Downs racing continues despite fires
Horse racing is set to return to Ruidoso Downs Race Track and Casino over the weekend. More than 320 horses will head to the starting gate for 34 trial races.
The decision to resume racing was left up to the racetrack and Ruidoso community, said Izzy Trejo, executive director of the New Mexico Racing Commission.
In a Facebook video, Rick Baugh, general manager of the Ruidoso Downs Race Track & Casino, said the racetrack is the "safest place to be."
"We got to get the wheels back on the bus," Baugh said. "We've got to get this going. We are working with the community. We told our season seat holders you're probably going to have to come and go. We've encouraged that, come in and leave."
More FEMA assistance arriving in Ruidoso
In addition to applying for FEMA federal disaster assistance, FEMA will send more personnel to Ruidoso on Friday, June 28, to register its Individual Assistance Program, officials said.
Anyone impacted by the South Fork and Salt Fire may apply to the program, which helps with housing benefits, disaster unemployment assistance, personal property losses and more.
The Individual Assistance Program provides financial and direct services to those with necessary expenses that cannot be met through insurance.
A FEMA disaster survivor assistance team or DSA will visit hotels, the mayor said.
Link: https://www.fema.gov/assistance/individual
Scams and Fraud
Scams can run rampant after natural disasters, with some looking to exploit vulnerable residents. Residents should use local contractors who are trusted within the community and always verify credentials, said officials with FEMA.
Price gouging is also a concern, with reports of some businesses raising prices for essential goods and services.
The act will not be tolerated, said New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez.
Any suspicions of price gouging and other fraudulent activities can be reported to the Attorney General's Office by:
Online: nmdoj.gov/get-help and complete the online complaint form.
Phone: 505-490-4060, option 3.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Ruidoso fire update: Monsoon storms aid, hinder containment efforts
