Swallow Fire In Ruidoso Extinguished
According to Fire officials, the Swallow fire that began Thursday afternoon in the mountain community of Ruidoso has now been extinguished.
Fire crews will continue to monitor the area 24/7 until Wednesday.
The Thursday afternoon fire in the mountain community of Ruidoso destroyed nine homes and forced the evacuation of hundreds of residents.
All residents whose homes have been destroyed have been notified.
Fire investigators have determined the fire was human-caused.
“We have pinpointed the origin of the fire and are interviewing persons of interest. At this time, no charges have been filed and no arrests have been made,” said Lt. Ray Merritt from the Ruidoso Police Department.
Officials ask anyone with any information regarding the fire to please contact Crimestoppers at 800-432-6933 or the Ruidoso Police Department at 575-258-7365.
“A special investigation is under way by the U.S. Forest Service in cooperation with the Ruidoso Police Department,” said Ruidoso Police Department Chief Joe Magill.
The fire consumed at least 10 acres of land. Officials said containing flare-ups in the area will be key to containment.
According to the Ruidoso News, the fire broke out behind the K-Bobs Restaurant along Highway 70, shortly after 3 p.m. Thursday afternoon. Terrance Vestal, editor of the newspaper, told ABC-7 at several buildings were engulfed and fire crews were scrambling to fight the growing blaze.
The Ruidoso News also reports that at one point two air units, a single-engine air tanker stationed at Sierra Blanca Regional Airport and a helicopter, had joined the battle against the blaze.
Fire officials issued a mandatory evacuation from Pinecliff Road, near Ruidoso Ford and all the way to DiPaolo Road. According to official information gathered from the Visit Ruidoso Twitter feed, evacuations for Swallow, Wood Lane, Miriam and Mockingbird were also implemented. Some homeowners were escorted to their houses to bring out pets.
Two local hotels, Quality Inn & Suites and the Village Lodge offered free rooms to evacuees from the fire.
Evacuees were also being directed to the Gateway Church of Christ. Officials were also calling for people with livestock trailers to come to incident command at Dollar General by Bealls to help transport livestock.
