Jun. 19—Heavy rainfall on Wednesday complicated efforts to fight two Ruidoso-area wildfires as the threat of lightening and flash flooding prompted officials to pull back crews from the South Fork and Salt fires. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham also reported that two fire-related fatalities occurred in the first 24 hours of the fires that began Monday, […]
Jun. 19—Authorities have recovered the remains of two people killed as the growing South Fork wildfire edged toward the Village of Ruidoso this week, a New Mexico State Police spokesman said Wednesday. One of those killed was Patrick Pearson, 60, who died Monday evening while trying to walk away from a Ruidoso hotel where he […]
Evacuees settle in at the Eastern New Mexico University gymnasium Tuesday, June 18, 2024 after evacuating the Ruidoso area because of the South Fork and Salt fires. (Leah Romero / Source NM) When KC Counts left her cabin in Ruidoso on Tuesday, she saw smoke from a new fire start. About three hours later she […]
The man who died in the Ruidoso wildfires is being remembered as a devoted father and talented musician by loved ones. Patrick Pearson, 60, was found dead on the side of the road near the Swiss Chalet Motel, located at 1451 N. Mechem Road, according to New Mexico State Police. “He is irreplaceable,” Musician Brendan […]
Two fires threatening the community of Ruidoso expanded Tuesday, June 18, affecting at least 500 structures and prompting a second evacuation order, this time for the neighboring City of Ruidoso Downs. The South Fork Fire burning to the west and north of the village grew to about 15,300 acres by mid-afternoon, with 1,400 structures reported […]
New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham on Tuesday confirmed at least one person has died as a result of two large wildfires threatening Lincoln and Otero counties. “As many New Mexicans are already aware, we are battling two major fires,” Lujan Grisham said in a news conference in Santa Fe. Lujan Grisham declared a state […]
Jun. 18—ROSWELL — Dave Millsap said he was standing outside his home above Cedar Creek in Alpine Village north of Ruidoso when the fires began Monday. With fire getting closer to his home in the afternoon, he knew it was time to go as hot ashes started falling like snow, he said. “I am almost […]
Jun. 18—Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham declared a state of emergency in Lincoln County and the Mescalero Apache Reservation and deployed New Mexico National Guard troops to the area as two wildfires continued to burn out of control. As many as 500 structures may be damaged or destroyed in the village of Ruidoso by the South […]
Nearly 19,000 acres of the Lincoln National Forest burned in two wildfires around the Village of Ruidoso as of early Tuesday morning, according to Village officials. The South Fork Fire scorched 13,921 acres and the Salt Fire burned 4,876 acres, read a post on the Village of Ruidoso Facebook page. Zero containment was listed on […]
Jun. 17—An evacuation order has been issued for Ruidoso, the village announced on its Facebook page Monday evening. “Please do not try to gather belongings or protect your home — GO NOW,” the post states. The only evacuation route is on Sudderth to Highway 70 out to Roswell, according to the village. New Mexico Highway […]
Firefighting progress continued Thursday of a fire caused by lightning burning near Ruidoso, according to the New Mexico Forestry Division. The Blue 2 Fire burned 7,532 acres in the White Mountain Wilderness Area eight miles north of Ruidoso, noted a press release from New Mexico Forestry. The fire was 83% contained as of Thursday morning […]