SANTA FE, N.M. (news agencies) — Thousands of residents fled their homes as a wildfire swept into the mountain village of Ruidoso in southern New Mexico on Tuesday, destroying or damaging more than 500 structures, including an unknown number of homes.
The governor declared a county-wide state of emergency that extended to neighboring tribal lands and deployed National Guard troops after residents fled under evacuation orders Monday with little time to rescue belongings.
“The horrific South Fork Fire and Salt Fire have ravaged our lands and property, and forced thousands to flee their homes,” Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham said. “We are deploying every available resource to control these fires.”
There have been no reports of any serious injuries, Lujan Grisham told reporters at a news conference in Santa Fe Tuesday afternoon.
But she said the magnitude of the fires is beyond local control and requires immediate state intervention to protect public health, safety and welfare.
More than 500 structures have been damaged and the entire village of Ruidoso, population 7,000, has been evacuated, she said. She said it’s unclear how many homes were engulfed by the fast-moving flames because the extreme fire activity continues to prevent authorities from safely accessing the area to assess the damage.
“It’s too dangerous,” she said.
State Forester Laura McCarthy described the fires as “dangerous and fast moving” in strong winds up to 20 mph.
“Extreme fire behavior,” she said. McCarthy said a cold front was moving into the area and should bring rain to the area by Wednesday or Thursday. But she said that was “both bad news and good news” because while the precipitation would be welcome, stronger winds would not.
The governor said her emergency declaration unlocks additional funding and resources to manage the crisis in Lincoln County and the Mescalero Apache Reservation. She said nearly 20,000 acres (8,100 hectares) have been consumed, an area larger than 31 square miles (80 square kilometers).
“The fire is out of control, but I’ve heard of no injuries or fatalities,” Ruidoso City Councilor Greg Cory said during a brief telephone interview from Clovis, New Mexico, where he and his wife and grandson arrived after driving about three hours Monday evening from Ruidoso.
They were among hundreds of Ruidoso residents who fled for their lives through traffic-clogged downtown streets in the normally pastoral vacation destination, as smoke darkened the evening sky and 100-foot (30-meter) flames climbed a ridgeline.
Christy Hood, a real estate agent in Ruidoso, said Monday’s order to evacuate came so quickly that she and her husband, Richard, only had time to grab their 11-year-old son and 15-year-old daughter, and their two dogs.
“We don’t have clothes or a toothbrush,” she said. “We truly don’t have anything.”
Police were going up and down the streets telling people to drop everything and go, she said.
“As we were leaving, there were flames in front of me and to the side of me,” she said. “And all the animals were just running — charging — trying to get out.”
They headed out of Ruidoso, but heavy traffic turned what’s normally a 15-minute drive into a harrowing two-hour ordeal.
“It looked like the sky was on fire. It was bright orange,” she said. “Honestly, it looked like the apocalypse. It was terrifying and sparks were falling on us.”
On social media posts, Ruidoso officials didn’t mince words: “GO NOW: Do not attempt to gather belongings or protect your home. Evacuate immediately.”
Jacquie and Ernie Escajeda were at church Monday in Ruidoso, located about 130 miles (210 kilometers) southeast of Albuquerque, when they heard about a fire in a nearby community about 20 miles (30 kilometers) away. They said they didn’t think much of it, but by mid-morning, smoke rose above a mountain behind their house and the smell filled the air.
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