FBI Offers $10,000 Reward for Info on South Fork/Salt Fires

FEMA adds Otero County to disaster declaration

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While an official cause remains pending for the South Fork and Salt fires, which began on Mescalero Apache land June 17, an FBI reward poster intimates the fires may have been set, offers offers $10,000 “for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for starting the fires near Ruidoso, New Mexico.”

According to the announcement, the FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office is assisting “local, state, federal and tribal partners in the ongoing investigation” of the fires and asking anyone with information to call the FBI’s toll-free tip line at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324). People can also submit information online at tips.fbi.gov.

As of Sunday morning, June 23, the South Fork and Salt fires were 31% and 7% contained at 17,551 and 7,775 acres, respectively.

A community meeting with the Southwest Area Incident Management Team 5 will be held tonight at at 5pm MDT at https://www.facebook.com/SWIMT5 with representatives from Lincoln County, Ruidoso Police Department, NM State Police, Red Cross, PNM, Windstream, Mescalero Apache Telephone, Tri-State Electric and Otero Co Electric.

President Biden last week approved a major disaster declaration for the state, which makes federal funding available to people living in Lincoln County and on Mescalero Apache Tribal land. People can apply online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or call the FEMA application helpline at (800) 621-3362. The Federal Emergency Management Agency on Sunday announced Otero County also has been added to the declaration.

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s office today also announced a state Disaster Recovery Center is now open at the Roswell Convention Center and will remain open from 8 am to 6 pm seven days a week, at which residents can connect to disaster case management.