Update: New Mexico Governor To Visit Fire Area Near Silver City

Update March 9: ABC-7 has visited the Silver Acres neighborhood, directly where the fire spread through. The fire went right up against some homes, but did not burn the homes, while just 50 feet away, a neighbor’s home was completely engulfed and destroyed.

Some people left their homes with just the clothes on their backs and their pets. New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez is set to visit the fire area this afternoon.

How to help victims of Quail Ridge Fire near Silver City, New Mexico:

Make donation at Western Bank of Silver City. Say you are making donation to victims of Quail Ridge.

Make donation to Red Cross, Southwestern New Mexico Chapter, http://www.swnmredcross.org/

Make donations to help animals and pets at the High Desert Humane Society, http://www.highdeserthumane.org/

Look for more updates on our 4 p.m., 5 p.m., 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. newscasts.

Previous story: A wind-driven wildfire in the Silver City area was contained Tuesday, after threatening hundreds of homes. At least a dozen were destroyed, officials said.

Many of the people evacuated said they had to drop everything Monday afternoon and just leave.

As crews began allowing residents in Tuesday night, some were nervous, wondering if they had anything to go home to.

“It’s just not knowing that makes it really difficult,” Chris Farren, an evacuee, said.

Anxiety was high and there was a feeling of helplessness inside a temporary shelter.

?There?s propane tanks that have bulged, there?s downed power lines?so we have to make sure it?s safe to get back in there,? Incident Commander Gabe Holguin said.

Jeanette Hamilton-Trujillo was one among hundreds of evacuees just waiting, with her family.

“Nobody’s telling anybody anything, that’s the frustrating part,” Hamilton-Trujillo said.

Residents said they were frustrated early Tuesday, tired of not knowing what, if anything, was left of their homes.

“It was hot and it was, my barn was blazing, my horses were loose?I fed them and had to leave,” Hamilton-Trujillo said.

Others complained about not being allowed near their homes to help preserve their property.

“The bottom line is we all just want to make sure we can protect what is ours – period,” Raelynn Garnados, an evacuee, said.

Fire officials said crews will continue working around the clock, checking for hot spots, racing against time.

?There’s no way I could understand what they’re going through without actually going through it,? Jim Apodaca, spokesperson for the fire management team, said. ?But their patience and understanding is really helping us out, and allowing us to do the work we need to do to get them into their homes quicker.”

The Quail Ridge Fire broke out Monday afternoon. High winds fueled the blaze, which fire officials said already blackened nearly 1,800 acres and destroyed at least a dozen homes.

“In recent memory, this is the biggest fire that’s impacted Silver City itself, and part of the severity was how fast this fire developed,? Apodaca said. ?It was really tough to get resources here.”

Evacuated residents said they are trying to keep high spirits.

?Everything else is still in the house and I hope it’s still there when it’s all over,” Hamilton-Trujillo said.

Official damage estimates are yet to be determined, officials said. But there is good news ? no major injuries have been reported.

Of course with fire season just getting started, crews are warning people in the area to be prepared if another fire happens again.