Savage New Mexico wildfires near Ruidoso led to the evacuation of approximately 8,000 residents. At least one person died and more than 1,400 structures were burned in the South Fork and Salt Fires. The fires consumed more than 23,000 acres by Wednesday morning.
According to an EverythingLubbock.com article, some 8,000 residents near Ruidoso were ordered to evacuate as the South Fork Fire is zero percent contained.
Fire Horror In New Mexico: The entire town of Ruidoso, New Mexico, nearly 8,000 people were evacuated.
— John Cremeans USA (@JohnCremeansUSA) June 18, 2024
The South Fork, Salt, and Penn Scott Fires have turned into this town’s worst nightmare. #Wildfire #NewMexico pic.twitter.com/pFelMXoGeh
One Ruidoso resident, Christy Hood, a real estate agent, told the Associated Press that Governor Michelle Grisham’s state of emergency declaration and evacuation order came so quickly that she and her husband, Richard, only had time to grab their two children and two dogs.
“As we were leaving, there were flames in front of me and to the side of me,” she told the AP. “And all the animals were just running — charging — trying to get out.”
“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.”
A social media post on X shows the before and after photos of a log cabin situated in the path of the wildfire.
Please pray for the Village of Ruidoso. 1,400 homes lost, including our own.
— The Professor's Record - David K. Clements (@theprofsrecord) June 19, 2024
On the bottom is the last picture I took of our cabin that we rented out as an AirBnB. We had just finished rebuilding the front deck. We had slowly redone just about everything in it over the last 8… pic.twitter.com/AbR8VFqHfY
More than 1,400 homes, businesses, and other structures fell victim to the ravaging flames.
As of the morning of Tuesday, June 18, the fire had destroyed over 19,000 acres in the Ruidoso area.
— KTSM 9 News (@KTSMtv) June 18, 2024
The fires are still at 0% contained.
Over 500 homes have been lost, multiple businesses destroyed and thousands have been displaced.#prayforruidoso
Photos: AP pic.twitter.com/4uCDcAG2la
Another post on X shows the immense power of the rapidly moving fires near the Village of Ruidoso.
Apocalyptic forest fires are engulfing increasingly large areas in the southern United States
— S p r i n t e r F a m i l y (@SprinterFamily) June 18, 2024
The video shows a forest fire in New Mexico, where the complete mandatory evacuation of the village of Ruidoso, with a population of eight thousand, began yesterday evening. pic.twitter.com/3izKm0pzgG
Governor Grisham declared a state of disaster on Tuesday and deployed National Guard units to provide emergency assistance, the AP reported. High winds continue to fan the flames and challenge fire-fighting crews.
Thank you to all the fire crews, first responders, law enforcement and volunteers working tirelessly to protect the Ruidoso area and those who reside there. May God bless them as they continue the fight. #SouthForkFire #SaltFire pic.twitter.com/ncAuAdrgtR
— Yvette Herrell (@Yvette4congress) June 19, 2024
Governor Grisham’s office reported the death of one person from the fires. No additional details were available.
Prayers for the people in Ruidoso NM 🙏🏽🥺 pic.twitter.com/u5sYhU7cqw
— Dr Octothorpe (@octothorpe_dr) June 18, 2024
Emergency shelters are being set up for victims fleeing the deadly wildfires.
Residents of the Mescalero Apache Reservation rest while sheltering at the Inn of the Mountain Gods Resort in Ruidoso, N.M., Tuesday, June 18, 2024. Thousands of residents fled their homes as a wildfire swept into the mountain village of Ruidoso in southern New Mexico. (AP Photo/Andres Leighton)
Bob Price is the Breitbart Texas-Border team’s associate editor and senior news contributor. He is an original member of the Breitbart Texas team. Price is a regular panelist on Fox 26 Houston’s What’s Your Point? Sunday morning talk show. He also serves as president of Blue Wonder Gun Care Products.
