New Mexico governor meets with fire officials in Ruidoso

RUIDOSO, N.M. — New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham visited Ruidoso Friday afternoon to get a firsthand look at the damage from the McBride Fire.

In the same room where evacuees slept, Lujan Grisham, firefighters, village and county leaders discussed what needs to happen to make sure evacuated families get the help they need. She said the state needs to focus on fire mitigation efforts moving forward.

"We are going to do everything we can to keep people safe and to mitigate the extent of these fires," Lujan Grisham said. "This is going to happen all over and around the state and we have to be prepared. That’s why I am here. We have to be prepared."

The 6,100-acre McBride Fire is now one of the most destructive fires in the state’s history. The acreage might be relatively low, but the fire has already claimed two lives this week – and it’s still at 0% containment.

However, the fire’s path is headed toward burn scars from previous fires. The incident commander told KOB 4 that those burn scars will help stop the fire because all the fuel the fire needs to keep going is already gone.

"It’s a different type of fuel type, so you may not have the tree canopy and such that you had in and throughout town and then in some of those areas," said Southwest Incident Commander Dave Bales.

Acres: 6,185
Cause: Under investigation
Containment: 0%
Start Date: April 12, 2022
Location: Gavilan Canyon within the Village of Ruidoso
Fuels: Timber, brush, dry grasses
Structures burned: 207 primary structures, multiple outbuildings
Fatalities: 2

Evacuations

The following evacuations have been lifted for Moon Mountain Area: High Loop, Lupin, Starlight, Old Lincoln, Nogal Place etc. East of Hull: McBride, Snowcap, Timberline, Fawn Ridge etc.

Evacuations remain in place for the following: Gavilan Canyon: From Highway 70 to Lower Eagle Creek; Homestead Acres/Lower Eagle Creek; Rancho Ruidoso Valley Estates, Deer Valley, Deer Park, and Alto East of Flute Player. The Ruidoso Convention Center is open to evacuees.