U.S. President Joe Biden on Thursday authorized federal aid to support recovery efforts in New Mexico, where devastating wildfires have ravaged tribal reservations and communities.
The declaration comes amidst ongoing challenges posed by dry, windy conditions despite recent rain providing some respite for firefighters.
In the mountainous terrain near Ruidoso, the aftermath of the fires reveals charred properties and a landscape scarred by the blaze. Overnight, heavy rainfall triggered flash floods in the area, complicating firefighting operations and exacerbating the already perilous conditions.
Approximately 120 kilometers to the east in Roswell, community effort has emerged to aid evacuees from the South Fork and Salt Fires.
"Here in the southwest we're all family. I said the other day, we have everybody's back and I meant that. These are city employees here and at night when people get off work, they're going to volunteer and they'll also be here," said Jim Burress, director of Roswell Special Services.
Gabriel Begay is a Ruidoso resident, and a member of the Dine Nation, also known as the Navajo Nation. He is concerned about reports of flash floods and the looming danger to animals on the mountain where the wildfires are still raging on.
"Yes, I think about like the animals, they're just running away from the fire and they're like us. They don't have help, they don't have water or they can't eat fresh stuff; they're just running away. I'm just worried about the animals because think about it, the animals were here before humans were," said Begay, a Ruidoso resident.
Residents of affected areas were given short notice on Monday to flee for their lives. The emergency situation forced them to leave their beloved pets behind. Christina Waldrop, a volunteer from Albuquerque, recounted a heartening reunion at the animal shelter.
"So he wasn't even sure where his dog went. He was transferred to the hospital here in Roswell. He came in yesterday morning into the fairgrounds just by chance looking for his dog, and we were able to reunite him with his dog," said Waldrop, a volunteer at the animal shelter.
Such heartwarming stories help relieve some of the sadness for the people who have lost everything, as they continue waiting for weary firefighters to bring the wildfires under control.
The fire broke out Monday morning on the Mescalero Apache Reservation, according to the New Mexico Forestry Division. About 1,400 homes and other structures were destroyed, the forestry division said in an update. The village of Ruidoso, a town of some 7,700 west of the reservation, was ordered to evacuate due to the advancing fire.
Biden approves New Mexico disaster aid as wildfires wreak havoc
Biden approves New Mexico disaster aid as wildfires wreak havoc
