6-24-2024 8:22am

Re-entry Begins for Full Time Locals in Ruidoso Monday Fire Containment Efforts Continue

Chris Edwards Editor

It’s 8 am in Ruidoso on June 24th, 2024 and a day that will be imprinted on the lives of many returning full time residents of Ruidoso for generations. Today is the day of return, reentry and evaluation of the efforts required to move forward in recovery from the devastation of the once in a generation disaster of wild fires to the region.

During a news conference Saturday, June 22, Ruidoso Mayor Lynn Crawford pulled no punches about the long road to recovery, saying it could be “five or six years” before residents see a full recovery for the town.

“This is just the very beginning, folks,” he said, adding later, “The government can’t do everything for us, so it’s going to be up to our citizens to rebuild this community.”

Representatives of relief efforts and FEMA will be on hand as the process of recovery and rebuilding moves forward. There will be moments of tears, heartbreak and frustration with the process, the paperwork and the recovery effort speed and process. Being a family faced with loss of property home or business is frustrating and heartbreaking but there are everyday heroes working diligently to move forward.

During a weekend news conference, Mayor Crawford stood alongside state and federal officials, like New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell, to thank first responders and prepare residents for what lies ahead as they begin returning to their properties.

“A lot of folks have nothing,” Crawford said, “and it’s going to be emotionally impacting to these folks.”

As the Village of Ruidoso prepares for residents to re-enter on Monday morning at 8:00 AM, it is important to note that there are designated “NO ENTRY/EXCLUSION ZONES” that will remain inaccessible. These areas are currently classified as crime scenes and are undergoing recovery efforts. Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) canine strike teams are actively working in these zones, and access will be restricted until these teams have completed their work. Please refer to the map below for specific locations of these exclusion zones.

A link to the map is https://drive.google.com/file/d/1bo01JOiaJiP5paZtunwC6iLzVrBx0kwg/view?…

Due to ongoing recovery operations, there are certain areas within the Village that residents will not be able to access. These zones are secured and monitored by officers to ensure the safety and integrity of the recovery process. Currently, there are two confirmed fatalities, and USAR teams have identified potential additional fatalities. It is crucial that these areas remain undisturbed until they are officially cleared.

Reporting Unaccounted Individuals

We are aware that some individuals remain unaccounted for. If you have previously reported to the EOC Phone Bank that you were unable to contact someone and have since made contact, please inform the EOC Phone Bank at 575-258-6900. This will help us update our welfare checklist and ensure accurate tracking of all residents.

Access Points for Re-Entry

Residents will be able to re-enter the Village of Ruidoso exclusively through the entry point at the Y. Access will be available via:

HWY 70 East (from Roswell)
HWY 70 West (from Tularosa via Carrizozo)

Please note that the north entry point via HWY 48 will be closed at Gavilan Canyon. This area south of Gavilan Canyon is designated as an Exclusion Zone, and passage through this area will not be permitted.

Important Contact Information

For any updates or inquiries, please contact the EOC Phone Bank at 575-258-6900. Your cooperation and understanding are essential as we work through this critical recovery phase.

In response to the devastating Salt Fire and South Fork Fire impacting Lincoln County and the Mescalero Apache Reservation, the New Mexico Office of Superintendent of Insurance (OSI) has issued an Emergency Order. This action follows Governor Lujan Grisham’s Executive Order and aims to provide enhanced insurance protections and support for policyholders in the fire-impacted areas over the next 120 days.

“The entire OSI team is thinking about the communities affected by these horrible wildfires,” said Superintendent of Insurance Alice T. Kane. “Evacuees should first and foremost focus on keeping themselves and their families safe. Our hope is that the protections give these communities one less thing to worry about as they navigate the devastating impacts of the wildfires.”

Key Provisions of the Emergency Order:

Health Insurance Protections:
- Grace Periods for Premium Payments: Health insurers must provide grace periods for premium payments to ensure continued coverage.
- Early Prescription Refills: Insurers are required to allow early refills of prescriptions.
- Coverage for Out-of-Network Services: Insurers must cover out-of-network services.
- Waiver of Patient Cost-Sharing and Prior Authorizations: These financial and administrative burdens are waived to ensure access to necessary medical services.
- Replacement of Essential Medical Supplies and Equipment: Coverage is extended for essential medical supplies and equipment left behind due to evacuations.
Property Insurance Protections:
- Grace Periods for Premium Payments and Claims Submission: Property insurers, including those offering homeowners and automobile policies, must provide grace periods.
- Waiver of Deductibles: Deductibles are waived to ease financial stress on policyholders.
- Postponement of Cancellations and Non-Renewals: Cancellations and non-renewals of policies are postponed.
- Suspension of Late Payment Fees: Late payment fees are suspended to assist policyholders financially.
- Advance Payment for Additional Living Expenses (ALEs): Policies that cover ALEs are required to promptly issue an advanced payment of $5,000 to policyholders impacted by the wildfires.

Most homeowners' policies cover ALEs, including hotel costs, meals, and other necessities for displaced policyholders. This advance payment aims to provide immediate financial relief.

Emergency Hotline and Additional Information: OSI stands ready to serve New Mexicans as they navigate the aftermath of these wildfires. The agency’s emergency hotline number for the Salt Fire and South Fork Fire is 1-833-485-1336. For more information, visit OSI's wildfire resource page.

These measures are designed to alleviate the financial and administrative challenges faced by those impacted, allowing them to focus on their safety and recovery during this difficult time.

The FBI has announced a substantial reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the recent South Fork and Salt Fires near Ruidoso, New Mexico. These wildfires, discovered on June 17, 2024, have caused significant damage, and authorities are seeking public assistance in identifying the cause.

Reward:

The FBI is offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for starting the fires near Ruidoso, New Mexico.

Details:

The FBI's Albuquerque Field Office is assisting local, state, federal, and tribal partners in the ongoing investigation of the fires near Ruidoso, New Mexico. The South Fork Fire and Salt Fire were discovered on June 17, 2024. Law enforcement officials are asking for the public's assistance in identifying the cause of these fires.

Submit A Tip:

If you have any information concerning this case, please contact the FBI's Toll-Free tipline at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324). You may also contact your local FBI office, the nearest American Embassy or Consulate, or you can submit a tip online at tips.fbi.gov.

Containment: South Fork – 37%; Salt – 7%

Fuels: mixed conifer, grass, pine/juniper

Resources: The South Fork and Salt fires are currently staffed with 19 crews, 8 helicopters, 71 engines, 14 bulldozers, and 23 water tenders.

Highlights: Information regarding the South Fork and Salt fires, status of the surrounding communities, and other updates were provided on Sunday at the Community Meeting Facebook Live Stream. For those interested in accessing the recording, visit https://www.facebook.com/SWIMT5.

Fire Activity: Widespread precipitation caused localized flooding and limited firefighter access to areas across the South Fork and Salt fires on Sunday. Today, crews will focus on mop-up, clearing snags, hazard tree operations and securing the perimeter where conditions allow. Incident personnel will also continue structural assessments in neighborhoods and the fire area.

While fire behavior has reduced to smoldering and creeping in heavy duff and dead/down fuels, fire activity and smoke can increase in interior pockets of unburned fuel as warmer weather moves into the region. Residents and others traveling within the fire area should continue taking extra precautions as emergency vehicles, engines and equipment continue to travel and work along roadways.

Evacuations: No evacuations are in place. Use www.lincolncountynm.gov and www.ruidoso-nm.gov/south-fork-fire for the latest information. More information available from the Lincoln County Emergency Operations Center at 575-258-6900.

Tribal members who have been displaced outside of the Mescalero Apache Reservation due to the fires are strongly encouraged to contact the Tribe’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) to help you and your families get back to the reservation. If you’re stranded out of town at other evacuation sites, please call the EOC at 575-464-9214 for more details.

Closures: A South Fork Fire Emergency Closure Order was issued on June 20, 2024, for national forest lands within the Smokey Bear Ranger District. The identified areas, and roads and trails therein, are closed to public access to allow firefighting personnel to work and through the fire area safely. More information is available at www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/lincoln/alerts-notices/?aid=88199.

A Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) is in place over the fire area. Public/commercial drone flights are also prohibited within this area. It is illegal for the public to fly drones within the fire area, including around private residences, businesses or other areas. If you fly, we may have to ground our air resources. Visit https://www.tfr.faa.gov for more information.

More information:

Inciweb: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/nmmea-south-fork-and-salt

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SWIMT5

Smoke Outlook: https://outlooks.wildlandfiresmoke.net/outlook/430b2c05

Lincoln County Government: www.lincolncountynm.gov

Mescalero Apache Tribe: https://mescaleroapachetribe.com

Village of Ruidoso: www.ruidoso-nm.gov/south-fork-fire