ROSWELL, N.M. – Cooler weather and the possibility of rain this week bring hope for relief to the firefighters battling blazes in southern New Mexico. These fires have caused devastation, claiming one life, damaging hundreds of structures, and forcing thousands to evacuate.
The strong winds have pushed the larger of the two wildfires into the mountain village of Ruidoso, catching residents off guard and giving them little time to evacuate. However, there is a shift in weather patterns expected by Wednesday morning, with moisture from a tropical wave in the Gulf of Mexico. According to Joshua Schroeder of the National Weather Service in Albuquerque, “Today was really our last dry day. Rains will then peak into Thursday and diminish by the weekend.”
While this is good news, there is also a downside. The shift in wind could lead to more challenges for the firefighters, and the rain could cause flash flooding in areas that have recently been burned.
Ruidoso and much of the Southwest have been experiencing extremely dry and hot weather this spring. These conditions, combined with strong winds, have made it difficult to control the fires, which rapidly spread into the village on Monday and Tuesday. As a result, homes, businesses, a regional medical center, and even the Ruidoso Downs horse track had to be evacuated.
The office of Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham confirmed one fatality due to the fire, but no further details were provided. More than 500 structures have been destroyed or damaged, but it is still unclear how many of these were homes. A flyover to assess the damage and provide more accurate mapping was planned for Tuesday night.
Ardis Holder, a resident of Ruidoso, had to evacuate with her two young daughters and very little notice. She left with her gas tank almost empty, praying that they would make it out safely. She is certain that the house she rented in the village she grew up in is gone, based on the maps she has seen so far. “We were already seeing where all the fire hit, it’s everywhere,” she said from a shelter in nearby Roswell. “If there’s something standing, that’s awesome. But, if not, we were prepared for the worst.”
In response to the crisis, Lujan Grisham declared a county-wide state of emergency, which also extends to the neighboring Mescalero Apache Reservation where both fires started. National Guard troops have been deployed, and the declaration unlocks additional funding and resources to manage the situation.
Nationwide, wildfires have burned more than 3,280 square miles (8,495 square kilometers) this year, which is higher than the 10-year average, according to the National Interagency Fire Center. Currently, there are about 20 large and uncontained wildfires, including those in California and Washington state.
Lujan Grisham stated that the two southern New Mexico wildfires have consumed over 31 square miles (80 square kilometers). While the exact cause of the fires is still under investigation, the Southwest Coordination Center has listed them as human-caused. “We are deploying every available resource to control these fires,” she said.
Ruidoso is a popular destination for both New Mexicans and Texans seeking relief from the hot weather. The population of around 7,000 people expands to about 25,000 during the warmer months, as people come to enjoy the cool of the leafy aspen trees, hiking trails, and fishing opportunities. The village is nestled within the Lincoln National Forest and offers amenities such as a casino, golf course, and ski resort operated by the Mescalero Apache Tribe. The Ruidoso Downs also hosts one of the sport’s richest quarter-horse competitions, which draws in crowds.
On Monday, as residents of Ruidoso fled through traffic-clogged streets, some described the scene as apocalyptic. The evening sky was darkened by smoke, embers were raining down, and there were 100-foot (30-meter) flames in the distance. The evacuation order came so quickly that Christy Hood and her husband Richard only had time to grab their two children and two dogs. The heavy traffic turned what should have been a 15-minute drive into a harrowing two-hour ordeal. “As we were leaving, there were flames in front of me and to the side of me,” said Hood, a real estate agent in Ruidoso. “And all the animals were just running – charging – trying to get out
