Forest fires under investigation

RUIDOSO, N.M. (AP) — Lifelong residents of Ruidoso will be able to return home Monday morning as federal authorities seek to prosecute those who sparked a pair of wildfires in New Mexico that killed two people and destroyed or damaged more than 1,400 structures.

The FBI said it is offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the South Fork Fire and Salt Fire in southern New Mexico, which forced thousands of people to evacuate.

The federal agency also said it is seeking public assistance in identifying the cause of the fires detected on June 17 near the town of Ruidoso.

The ad suggested that blame lay in human hands, saying the reward was for information leading to the arrest and conviction of “the person or persons responsible for starting the fires.”

Lincoln County Administrator Randall Camp said at a news conference Saturday that “we are approaching 1,000 homes lost” in the fires.

U.S. President Joe Biden issued a disaster declaration for parts of southern New Mexico on Thursday.

The measure freed up funds and more resources to assist with recovery efforts, including temporary housing, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property and other emergency efforts in Lincoln County and on lands belonging to the Mescalero Apache Tribe.

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