Two deadly wildfires, the South Fork Fire and the Salt Fire, have ravaged through Ruidoso, New Mexico, leaving at least one person dead and approximately 1,400 structures destroyed. The fires broke out on Monday and quickly spread due to extreme fire behavior. By Wednesday afternoon, both fires remained uncontained with zero percent containment.
The South Fork Fire started on the Mescalero Apache Reservation and had grown to an estimated 16,335 acres by Wednesday. The Salt Fire was reportedly burning in a different area and had consumed around 7,071 acres. Both fires have caused significant damage to homes and other structures.
One fatality was reported in the South Fork Fire on Tuesday when the body of a man named Pat Pearson, a Ruidoso resident and guitarist at Quarters bar and grill, was found near the Swiss Chalet Inn. Another individual was found dead in a burned vehicle on Ranier Road during the Salt Fire. Their identity is unidentified.
The cause of both fires is currently under investigation by the New Mexico Forestry Division.
Thousands of residents were forced to evacuate their homes due to the advancing fires. The Village of Ruidoso, a town with a population of around 7,700 people just west of the Apache reservation, was ordered to evacuate on Monday. The nearby community of Ruidoso Downs, which has a population of around 2,400 people and is east of Ruidoso, was also ordered to evacuate due to the Salt Fire.
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham declared a state of emergency for Lincoln County and the Mescalero Apache Reservation on Tuesday. She has also sent National Guard troops to assist in controlling the wildfires and provided additional funding and aid.
The weather is expected to change, but it remains uncertain how it will affect the fires. Winds have started shifting from the west due to a back-door cold front, which could bring moisture or potentially worsen conditions for both fires.
Power has been shut off in portions of Ruidoso at the request of first responders. Evacuees can find shelter at Eastern New Mexico University and evacuees with RVs or large animals can park and board their animals at the Eastern New Mexico State Fairgrounds.
The area around Ruidoso attracts a flow of recreational tourists, making it a popular destination for visitors. The fires have forced many to leave their homes and businesses behind.
