6-21-2024 1:05am

Arson Suspected FBI Officials Investigating Ruidoso Fires

Chris Edwards Editor

The FBI has confirmed that it is investigating. With zero containment, the fires converging and continuing to race in a battle with multiple agencies in Southern New Mexico, 31 Miles of land scorched, 1400 plus structures damaged or lost, one confirmed death and arson is suspected as the cause.

What caused the blazes hasn’t been definitively determined, but the Southwest Coordination Center listed them as human-caused.

The Cloudcroft Reader also reported that the mayor of Cloudcroft, has claimed: “it is his understanding that the fire was intentional.”

The cause of the fire remains under investigation, and people should refrain from speculation, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham said at a news conference in Roswell Wednesday evening, June 19. She was joined by Roswell Mayor Timothy Jennings and U.S. Rep. Melanie Stansbury.

FBI special agents have joined the investigation into the cause of wildfires in New Mexico, the agency said Thursday. “I can confirm that the FBI is assisting our local, state, federal and tribal partners in the ongoing investigation of the fires in Ruidoso NM,” said a spokesperson with the bureau’s Albuquerque field office.

FBI officials have asked anyone with information on the cause of the fires to reach out to the agency by calling 1-800-225-5324 or online at tips.fbi.gov