We own a place there...in the Upper Canyon which was the first and one of the hardest hit areas. A crude video shows our house is standing but with burn damage on the west side and the visible decks plus soffit, overhang, porch cover, etc. We can't see the entire west side nor the rear and the east side is only partly visible. 2000 structures is a figure I've heard but we won't know if that is accurate until we can get in there and according to the meeting yesterday with the incident management team that may not be soon. Evacuation order is still in place. Arson is thought to be the problem and one suspect has been arrested. 2-3 more are being pursued. 0% containment is not as bad as it may sound. The folks yesterday said there actually is containment however in a disaster case like this it is mandatory to know there are no embers, smoldering trunks, etc still in existence before anyone starts claiming containment. They said the containment figures should begin to increase soon. The video we saw (taken day before yesterday) showed our neighbor's house (which is gone) was still smoking a day and a half after the fire tore through.
You can send funds to the Community Methodist Church there in Ruidoso and that would be the only place I can suggest where I know 100% of donated funds will go where needed. The pastor told me yesterday members had already donated over $10,000 and at least one church had pledged to send them their coming Sunday collection plate funds. Very strong outreach church. We know it well and have been associated with it for years:
https://communitymethodist.church/ Please let me know if you need more information. Pastor is Dustin McEwen.
This fire is tough for a few different reasons. One...this isn't a large village. From what I know between 7000 and 9000 people live there permanently. Many of those have lost their homes and everything in them. Even though there's still an evacuation order in place, people have sent me digital images and a couple of cell phone videos and they are simply horrifying. Two...this is a fairly remote area so supplies, contractors, workers are not in large supply and transportation is costly. Alamogordo is about an hour away (where more lumber, concrete, etc will be), but it is downhill over there and uphill coming back. Three...construction here is not in any way easy and it takes time. Sloping, very rocky and poured slab foundations will not normally be approved for anything but maybe a garage or driveway in residential applications. So excavated pier and beam is necessary and that is more costly and requires more experienced workers. Four...the village has strict construction codes...because of a number of factors including safety of neighborhoods, environmental impact, etc. Five...much of the land surrounding Ruidoso is either Mescalero Apache reservation land or US National Forest land. Our property is separated from the Lincoln National Forest by one lot owned by a friend who lives near us. That land is essentially unmonitored, untrimmed and never swept of pine needles so any fire will go through it rapidly.
Didn't mean to be so wordy but treatment of something like this takes a bit of explaining. Fortunately we only know of 2 deaths. Please keep everyone there in your prayers.
