Lightning strike blamed for wildfire that killed 2 people in New Mexico, damaged 1,400 structures

FILE — A charred car and the remains of the Swiss Chalet Hotel are pictured after they were destroyed by the South Fork Fire in the mountain town of Ruidoso, N.M., Saturday, June 22, 2024. Authorities said a lightning strike sparked the larger of two wildfires that have killed at least two people and destroyed or damaged more than 1,400 structures in New Mexico. (AP Photo/Andres Leighton, File)