EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — A second person was confirmed dead as a result of the South Fork Fire and the Salt Fire in Ruidoso, New Mexico on Wednesday, June 19, according to New Mexico State Police.
New Mexico State Police identified one of the victims as Patrick Pearson, 60, who was found dead near the Swiss Chalet Motel, located at 1451 N Mechem Road on Tuesday, June 18. He was found on the side of the road.
State Police say Pearson sustained numerous burns from the fire and died as a result of his injuries.
“We are at a loss for words, and we are so heartbroken that this happened,” family friend Christiana Alvarez told KTSM.
State Police also confirmed a second death, stating that they found a person in the driver’s seat of a burned vehicle on Ranier Road during the South Fork Fire just before noon on Tuesday in Ruidoso.
State Police say the person is unidentified at this time, due to the person’s condition being skeletal remains. “No legible identification documents were located in the burned vehicle,” State Police said.
The South Fork Fire was last estimated to be at 16,335 acres with zero percent containment. The Salt Fire is estimated at 7,071 acres with also 0 percent containment, according to the New Mexico Forestry Division.
New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham declared a state of emergency on Tuesday for Lincoln County and the Mescalero Apache Reservation due to the wildfires and also deployed National Guard troops to the area, according to her office.
Grisham, representatives Gabe Vasquez and Melanie Stansbury, along with Mescalero tribal officials and other stakeholders were briefed by Otero County officials on the relief status of the wildfires on Wednesday.
The representatives said they anticipate evacuations and relief efforts to span across a timeline of weeks as the community reels from the devastation.
In addition to threats from the wildfires, the National Weather Service also issued Flash Flood Emergencies for parts of the Southern New Mexico area on Wednesday, many of the areas that experienced flash floods were those affected by the fires.
An estimated 8,000 people have been evacuated from the area and the Village of Ruidoso continues to be under mandatory evacuation. Ruidoso Downs was also ordered to evacuate on Tuesday evening.
Numerous additional evacuation orders were also issued including Fantasy Lane, Summit area, Botella Road, Snow Springs, Fence Canyon, Whitetail, and Chihuahua Well, according to the Forestry Division.
Red Cross reported 270 individuals checked in to shelters in Roswell, and 120 in Capitan as of Tuesday, according to the NM Forestry Division.
Residents and visitors who want to voluntarily evacuate can seek shelter at Capitan High School.
The Ruidoso Convention Center is not taking any more evacuations and those who are there will shelter in place should the status at the Convention Center change, according to the Village of Ruidoso’s Facebook page.
For those who cannot go to Capitan because of the Highway 70 closures, a shelter has been set up at 52 University Blvd. in Roswell.
If you can get there safely, an evacuation center at the Inn of the Mountain Gods Convention Center is available for anyone, tribal or non-tribal.
Carrizozo High School located at 800 D Ave., in Carrizozo, is also open for evacuees. Motorists can use Hwy 380 through Hondo to access the school.
Lea County Fairgrounds is also available to anyone who is evacuating and has stables as well as RV hookups. Contact Fairgrounds Director Wyatt Duncan at (575) 333-0252 for any questions.
For Mescalero Apache residents, an evacuation center is still available at the Mescalero Community Center Gymnasium.
The New Mexico Forestry Division has also provided a list of shelters in Roswell, New Mexico. Those are the following:
ENMU-R Gymnasium
52 B University Blvd.
Church on the Move
901 W. Brasher
NMMI Godfrey Center
101 W. College
NM Dream Center
2700 W. Second St.
ENM Fairgrounds
RVs and Large Animals
2500 SE Main
Roswell Convention Center
900 N. Main
Roswell Aquatic Center
1500 W. College
Those with pets can take them to the Humane Society of Lincoln County located at 25962 U.S. Highway 70 in Ruidoso.
Livestock can be held at the Mescalero Rodeo Grounds. You can call (575) 464-9878 if you need help with hauling your livestock.
People with livestock and RVs can also head to the Eastern New Mexico state fairgrounds at 2500 SE Main St. in Roswell.
The Forestry Division says US 70 is closed from mile marker 249 (intersection NM 244), 4 miles east of Mescalero, to mile marker 258, 2 miles east of Carrizo.
The only available evacuation route is on Sudderth Drive to Highway 70, leading out to Roswell.
Those with questions can call the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) at 202-794-5044. Initially, the EOC was relocated to the Lincoln County Courthouse in Carrizozo on Monday evening, June 17. However, the EOC was moved back to Fire Station 1 on Tuesday.
The Otero County Electric Cooperative has been requested to shut power off in the area around Penn Scott Drive and Cow Camp due to wildfires in the area. It is unknown when service will be restored. Interactive outage maps can be accessed at www.ocec-inc.com.
The City of Alamogordo says it’s also sending a team of firefighters to Ruidoso. Alamogordo Police have also mobilized to potentially assist with any traffic control needs.
Also, staff at the Alamogordo Civic Center has been placed on standby and is ready to open the facility as needed.
To donate to those who have been affected by the fire, click on our story below.
The Forestry Division says the cause of the fires is currently under investigation.
Both fires are burning on Mescalero tribal land, US Forest Service land, and the area surrounding Ruidoso. The Forestry Division says the South Fork Fire was discovered at 9 a.m., Monday, June 17.
This story will be updated when we receive more information.
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