06/20/2024
Village Mayor: “It Might Be A Week or More”
Before Residents Can Return to Ruidoso
Keithley’s Korner
By Tim Keithley
Mayor Lynn Crawford estimates that it might be a week or more before Ruidoso-area residents will be allowed to return to their homes following the destruction caused by the
South Fork and Salt Fires.
“When you see some of the damage first-hand, you’re not going to believe it,” Crawford said via a specially-charged cell phone from the command center at Fire Station #1 on Sudderth Drive. “The structure to accommodate our residents isn’t ready yet.”
Plus, Ruidoso is currently being investigated as a possible crime scene. There are a reported 1,400 structures lost and nearly 24,000 acres burned.
“The cause of the fires remain under investigation, and it is possible that they were man-made,” Crawford said. “That’s all I can say at this time—that’s it’s all under investigation.”
“The main problem with folks coming back to access the damage right now is that we do not have sufficient services available,” he said. “Electricity is not consistent, every natural gas line has to be checked, there is extremely limited cellular service and no stores are open. We understand that people want to come back but basic services need to be restored in order for that to happen.”
Emergency personal continue to work through a list of missing persons. In some cases, families are trying to reach loved ones and cannot because of limited cell service. (Anyone that needs assistance in finding family members should telephone the command center at 1-202-794-5044.)
“We understand that residents want back into the area to access their homes, but this remains an active disaster area and we’re asking for patience and understanding with the reality of the situation we’re facing.”
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The everybody-out “go” signal for the Village of Ruidoso was sent at 5:40 p.m., about dinner time for most residents. The town was empty just a few hours later.
“Our people are well-trained and they went right to work,” Crawford said. “Our team had been through evacuation drills, and I was very happy with the way the evacuation process worked especially turning Sudderth into four lanes. That was all in the plan. I suppose the most surprising thing to me was how fast it all happened. We had most all of the town safely evacuated in a matter of hours.”
Not everyone escaped. There have been two confirmed deaths, and less than 100 people are known by emergency officials to still be remaining inside the village.
That’s the most disappointing thing—the mass destruction that you simply can’t do anything about,” Crawford said. “You can plan ahead all you want, but we’re still experiencing the heartbreak of seeing this place that you hold so close to your heart being destroyed by fire and now possibly flooding. That’s next.”
Flooding is the real danger ahead. The mayor reported .15 inches of rain this afternoon in the Ruidoso-area which caused dramatic flooding scenes in some locations throughout the village. Forecasts call for more than an inch or two of rain within the next 48 hours which could prove as devastating for some as the original fire damage.
“We’ve got committed people that are working as hard as they can to save what’s here,” Crawford said. “I’m very grateful for their service and dedication. We are getting strong response from state and federal level to our requests.”
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Plenty of communities outside of Lincoln County are gathering emergency packages of food, water, clothing, and necessities in an effort to donate to frontline workers and disaster victims.
“I’m putting a big trailer outside my store in San Angelo,” Chuck Sonnenberg said. He owns Santa Fe Furniture & Gifts in Ruidoso Downs. “We’re going to pack it and I’ll drive it back to town. The donation-part is going to be broadcasted on the evening news tonight.”
Meanwhile, the Alamogordo Chamber of Commerce is sending shipments of meals daily to help feed firefighters and first-responders.
Sagebrush Church in Albuquerque is sending an “emergency trailer” of supplies that is being offered by church members. It’s one of the largest churches in the community.
U.S. Senate candidate Nella Domenici is creating a food-drive asking her supporters statewide for donations.
The Ruidoso Community Foundation has a long history of raising funds and putting cash into the hands of those who need it
That’s just scratching the surface. Thousands will be willing to donate to residents of a community that means so much to so many.
