On Monday morning, full-time residents of Ruidoso can finally return to their village. This comes as federal authorities work to prosecute whoever ignited the two New Mexico wildfires that claimed the lives of two individuals and caused damage to over 1,400 structures.
The Southern New Mexico’s South Fork Fire and Salt Fire, which caused several people to evacuate their homes, has caught the attention of the FBI. The FBI has announced a reward of $10,000 for anyone who can provide information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the perpetrators behind the wildfires.
Related posts
The public’s help has been requested by the federal agency in uncovering the reason behind the fires that were found on June 17th in the vicinity of Ruidoso village.
The notice made it clear that the cause of the fires was attributed to human activity. It went on to offer a reward for any information that would lead to the identification, arrest, and conviction of the individual or individuals responsible for starting the fires.
During a news conference on Saturday, Lincoln County Manager Randall Camp shared that the fires have resulted in nearly a thousand homes being lost.
On Thursday, President Joe Biden declared a disaster in southern New Mexico, providing additional funding and resources to support the recovery efforts in Lincoln County and on the Mescalero Apache Tribe’s lands. The declaration will enable temporary housing, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property, and other necessary emergency work to be carried out.
According to the National Interagency Fire Center, the South Fork Fire has managed to cover an area of 26 square miles (67 square kilometers) and has been contained up to 31% as of Sunday. Meanwhile, the Salt Fire that has spread over 12 square miles (31 square kilometers) has been contained up to 7%.
Fire officials have stated that both fires were at zero containment on Friday. They also mentioned that full containment is not expected until July 15.
On Sunday, the flames were still being battled by over 1,100 firefighters in challenging terrain that was steep and rocky.
Ruidoso is currently facing the South Fork and Salt fires, which continue to burn on either side of the village. Additionally, there is a looming threat of flash floods that could potentially cause further harm to the area.
Officials have stated that firefighters and the public are still facing potential hazards from downed power lines, as well as damage to water, sewer, and gas lines, and flooding in areas affected by burn scars.
On Saturday, Federal Emergency Management Agency administrator Deanne Criswell accompanied New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham as she surveyed the affected regions of the disaster.
According to Lynn Crawford, the mayor of Ruidoso, despite the availability of federal and state aid, the region may need at least five years to completely bounce back.
According to Ruidoso officials, residents who plan to return home on Monday should ensure that they bring along drinking water and enough food to last them for at least a week. The officials also cautioned that households may be deprived of gas, electricity, or water services.
