Federal authorities are offering a reward for information regarding the individuals responsible for starting two wildfires in New Mexico that resulted in two deaths and the destruction of hundreds of homes last week.
The FBI has announced a reward of up to $10,000 for any information related to the South Fork Fire and Salt Fire in southern New Mexico, which led to the evacuation of thousands of residents.
A statement from the agency indicated that they are seeking public help in determining the cause of the fires near Ruidoso, New Mexico, which were first discovered on June 17. The notice strongly suggests that human actions led to the fires and the reward is for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons accountable for starting the fires.
The South Fork Fire, covering 26 square miles, was 26% contained by Saturday, while the Salt Fire, spanning 12 square miles, was 7% contained. Full containment is not expected until July 15, as per the National Interagency Fire Center.
Recent rain and cooler temperatures have aided over 1,000 firefighters in their containment efforts. Crews have utilized the favorable weather conditions to establish protective lines using bulldozers and hand crews have been working in rough terrain to battle the fires near Ruidoso.
Additionally, heavy rain and flash flood warnings in other parts of New Mexico prompted mandatory evacuations and the setup of shelters in certain areas. Evacuation orders remained in place as of Saturday for some regions.
While flash flood warnings have been lifted, the National Weather Service cautioned that afternoon storms could result in excessive runoff and more flooding. The wildfires have caused damage to around 1,400 structures and other issues like downed power lines, damaged utilities, and flooding in burn areas continue to pose risks.
Evacuations are still ongoing near Ruidoso with road closures in effect, and full-time residents are expected to return on Monday. However, normalcy won’t be immediate as essential supplies like food and water will be needed.
President Joe Biden declared a disaster for certain parts of southern New Mexico, providing resources and funding for recovery efforts in Lincoln County and on Mescalero Apache Tribal lands.
FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell met with state and local officials to assure support for the affected communities during the recovery process.
The Southwest region has been experiencing extremely dry and hot conditions, contributing to the rapid spread of wildfires. Nationally, wildfires have affected over 3,344 square miles this year, surpassing the 10-year average.
