Ruidoso looks back on the impact of the South Fork and Salt Fires
RUIDOSO, N.M. (KRQE) – One year ago, fear and panic struck Ruidoso as a wildfire exploded. The entire village packed up what they could and left, with many coming back to nothing. The South Fork and Salt Fires left two dead, thousands of homes destroyed, and a long road to recovery.
Story continues below
Wildfire: House sitter becomes unexpected hero, saving four protected raptors during Trout Fire
Trending: New restaurant in Old Town takes over space left by beloved eatery
Crime: Man sentenced for stealing copper in downtown Albuquerque
News: Feds charge man for buying fireworks in NM, claiming he was going to use them against police in LA
Business owner Jackie Hunter feared the worst. 'We were evacuated for a week and a half. Didn't know what was going on with the fires. Didn't even know if we still had a building left,' said Hunter. On June 17, 2024, flames spread through the village quickly. The South Fork and Salt Fires burned more than 25,000 acres and 1,400 structures, many of them homes. After that came burn scar flooding.
Hunter, owner of A Quilting Stituation' in Alto, said business has been slow the past year. But it's given her the opportunity to be there for the community in a new way. 'We got to hear a lot of stories of a lot of people coming here of people who lost their homes from either the fire or the flood…it just breaks your heart.'
The Village of Ruidoso Mayor Lynn Crawford remembered the heartache. 'So that was a big day, a lot of devastation,' said Mayor Crawford.
But when the worst of it passed, he pushed forward. 'But it was setting up those avenues of how do we help people get back to normal or whatever that new normal was going to look like?' said Mayor Crawford.
Another loss came when tourism took a hit during the height of the summer season. 'That's where most of the businesses make the majority of their money annually,' said Mayor Crawford.
He's reminding people that the popular tourist town is open for business. 'We've been doing a lot of marketing and advertising for the community to say 'hey, we're open, come back and see us. Tourism is our industry,' said Mayor Crawford.
A lot of work has been done from de-silting the river, cleaning out and replacing culverts, removing debris, deepening the river and runoff channels, but the work isn't over. 'Whenever you have a tragedy like this you see neighbors coming together you see people helping out one another,' said Hunter.
While the village has rebuilt, there is still the fear of something like the South Fork and Salt Fires happening again. 'You see smoke, and a chill fear goes through you,' said Hunter.
Tuesday night, the Village of Ruidoso held an event designed to honor those impacted by the fires. Mayor Crawford recognized the courageous first responders and celebrated the community's continued resilience.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
17 hours ago
- Yahoo
Second suspect charged in 2023 fentanyl death of mother, unborn baby
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Another suspect has been charged in connection with the death of a pregnant mother who died alongside her unborn son from a fentanyl overdose in December 2023. According to , Nicholas Gregg is facing one count of first-degree murder, distribution of a controlled substance, two counts of distribution of an opiate, opium narcotic and certain stimulant, and two counts of distribution of heroin. Man suspected of multiple Midtown attacks charged with murder: court docs The charges come nearly two weeks after a Johnson County woman, , was arrested and charged with first-degree murder, in addition to other drug-related charges. Court documents say that on Christmas Eve night in 2023, officers with the Roeland Park Police Department were called to the QuickTrip at 5055 Roe Blvd. When officers arrived, they reported finding an unresponsive woman lying on the floor of the restroom. She was declared dead at the scene by emergency responders at about 11 p.m. According to an affidavit, she was found allegedly holding a lighter, a burnt red straw and a burnt piece of aluminum. Additionally, officers reported finding a second piece of foil with a small plastic baggie containing a 'rock-like substance.' Both substances were identified as fentanyl or para-fluorofentanyl, a form of medically prescribed fentanyl that is chemically . 16-year-old boy killed in Basehor, Kansas crash: KHP At the time of Hunter's death, court records say detectives were already monitoring Reed and Gregg's alleged fentanyl distribution patterns in Roeland Park. A was later opened into their potential involvement in Hunter's death. Hunter was reportedly with a boy at the time of her death. Her autopsy report revealed that she had died from an accidental fentanyl overdose, court documents say. Now, both Reed and Gregg are being held in a Johnson County jail on a $1 million bond. Gregg was scheduled to make his first court appearance Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. He has a preliminary hearing scheduled for June 26 at 9 a.m. Reed's next court hearing is scheduled for July 2 at 9 a.m. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Mobile police identify person killed in I-10 crash
Editor's note: A previous version of this article included incorrect information about the victim. News 5 has corrected the information. MOBILE, Ala. (WKRG) — Mobile Police Department officers have identified the person killed Wednesday in a crash on I-10 near Tillmans Corner. Arrested Mobile County teacher asks for trip to Bahamas Officials said 33-year-old Taylor Goff was killed when the vehicle they were driving left the interstate and hit a tree. Goff was pronounced dead on the scene. Officers responded to the area of I-10 and Highway 90 just after 7:30 a.m. on June 19. Mobile Animal Services ordered to return 30 dogs removed from Trinity Gardens home A second vehicle was involved in the crash; its driver was not injured, according to police. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Feds charge man for buying fireworks in NM, claiming he was going to use them against police in LA
NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – A Texas man is facing federal charges after allegedly purchasing fireworks in New Mexico and expressing plans to use them to harm law enforcement officers and government officials during protests in California, according to the Department of Justice. 'Threats like these strike at the heart of law and order — we will not hesitate to bring federal charges against anyone who seeks to harm law enforcement or endanger the safety of our communities,' Attorney General Pamela Bondi stated in part in a news release. Story continues below Wildfire: House sitter becomes unexpected hero, saving four protected raptors during Trout Fire Trending: New restaurant in Old Town takes over space left by beloved eatery Crime: Man sentenced for stealing copper in downtown Albuquerque News: Feds charge man for buying fireworks in NM, claiming he was going to use them against police in LA The feds said Grzegorz Vandenberg, 48, visited a travel center in Lordsburg to purchase the fireworks on June 12, 2025. While there, Vandenberg reportedly asked the cashier about the biggest fireworks that he could buy and the ones that could cause harm, according to court documents. Vandenberg told store employees that he was a prior special forces military and claimed he could make pipe bombs. He then reportedly told employees that he was traveling to Los Angeles for the 'riots' with the intent to kill law enforcement officers or government officials, court documents stated. Store staff reported that Vandenberg invited an employee to join him and his platoon in California and also claimed to have mortar explosives in his possession and reiterated his plan to use them to kill officers, per court documents. Officials said Vandenberg purchased six mortars, each containing 60 grams of gunpowder, and 36 large fireworks before leaving the store in a vehicle with Montana license plates, heading west on Interstate 10. Before he could leave, the cashier wrote down the vehicle's license plate number, officials said. 'Our message is clear: If you come after law enforcement officers, the FBI will spare no effort to find you and bring you to justice,' said FBI Director Kash Patel in the news release. 'This defendant allegedly intended to use explosives to attack police officers currently conducting law enforcement operations in Los Angeles and – with the help of a store cashier who took down his license plate information – we were able to put a stop to that plan. Law enforcement officers put their lives on the line to serve the American people and the FBI will always do our part to protect them.' Vandenberg is charged with transporting explosives in interstate commerce with the knowledge and intent that they would be used to kill, injure, or intimidate individuals. The DOJ said Vandenberg will remain in custody on conditions of release pending trial, which has not yet been scheduled. If convicted of the current charges, Vandenberg faces up to 10 years in federal prison. The Las Cruces Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Tucson Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Phoenix Field Office, Tucson Police Department, U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations, and Homeland Security Investigations El Paso. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
