FBI seeks suspects in 2 New Mexico wildfires that killed 2 people, damaged hundreds of buildings
RUIDOSO, N.M. — Full-time residents of Ruidoso will be allowed to return to their village Monday morning as federal authorities try to prosecute whoever started a pair of wildfires in New Mexico that killed two people and destroyed or damaged more than 1,400 buildings.
The FBI said it is offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to the arrests and convictions of those responsible for the South Fork Fire and Salt Fire in southern New Mexico. forced thousands to flee.
The federal agency also said it was seeking public assistance in identifying the cause of the fires discovered June 17 near the village of Ruidoso.
But the message also pointedly suggested that human hands were to blame, saying the reward included information leading to the arrest and conviction of “the person or persons responsible for starting the fires.”
Lincoln County Executive Randall Camp said at a news conference Saturday that “we have lost almost a thousand homes” to the fires.
President Joe Biden has one disaster declaration for parts of southern New Mexico on Thursday. The move freed up funding and increased resources to assist with recovery efforts, including temporary housing, low-cost loans to cover uninsured properties and other emergency work in Lincoln County and on lands belonging to the Mescalero Apache Tribe.
The National Interagency Fire Center said the South Fork Fire, which reached 26 square miles (67 square kilometers), was 31% contained Sunday. It says the salt fire that has spread across 31 square kilometers is now 7% contained.
Both fires were at zero on Friday. Full containment is not expected until July 15, according to fire officials.
More than 1,100 firefighters continued to battle flames in steep and rocky terrain on Sunday.
The South Fork and Salt fires are still burning on both sides of Ruidoso and there is still a threat of flash flooding over the village.
Authorities said downed power lines, damaged water, sewer and gas lines plus flooding from burns continued to pose risks to firefighters and the public.
New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham toured part of the disaster area on Saturday with Deanne Criswell, administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Even with federal and state aid on the table, Ruidoso Mayor Lynn Crawford estimates it could take at least five years for the area to fully recover.
Ruidoso officials said those who want to return home on Monday should bring drinking water and food for at least a week. They warned residents that homes may run out of gas, electricity or water.