FBI offers $10,000 reward for information on deadly New Mexico wildfires

EL PASO, Texas — A $10,000 reward is being offered by the FBI to anyone who can provide information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or people responsible for starting the New Mexico wildfires.

The FBI’s announcement of the reward Saturday is the first time law enforcement has said a person or group of people may be responsible for starting the deadly fires. Two people died in the fires.

“The FBI is offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person(s) responsible for starting the fires,” Albuquerque Division officials said of the FBI in a press release.

The South Fork Fire and Salt Fire began June 17 near Ruidoso, New Mexico. The fires destroyed approximately 1,400 structures and displaced more than 8,000 people.

“The FBI is assisting our local, state, federal and tribal partners in the ongoing investigation into the fires near Ruidoso, New Mexico,” FBI officials said. “We are asking for the public’s help in identifying the cause of these fires.”

Burned over 24,000 acres

As of Sunday morning, the South Fork Fire has burned 17,551 acres and the Salt Fire has burned 7,775 acres, according to a news release from the Incident Management Team. The South Fork Fire was 31% contained and the Salt Fire 7% contained as more than 1,100 people battle the two fires along the Mescalero Apache Reservation, Ruidoso Village and Ruidoso Town Downs.

“The South Fork and Salt fires resulted in additional precipitation Saturday, making it difficult for crews to access certain areas due to dangerous conditions,” the release said. “On Sunday, weather conditions will allow firefighters to continue to secure the perimeter and respond to hot spots within the fire zone.”

Fires are considered long-duration events because climate change and fire activity would increase in unburned fuel pockets, including stumps and downed trees.

“When these fuels are re-ignited, smoke may be visible,” the statement added.

Support from federal lawmakers for victims of the Ruidoso and Mescalero fires

U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich and Ben Ray Lujan pledged federal aid to those affected by the wildfires burning in Ruidoso on Friday, during a visit to Roswell where evacuees were sent to escape the blaze.

President Joe Biden on Thursday granted Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s request to declare a major disaster to secure federal funds to support recovery efforts. The declaration helps individuals, households and businesses in Lincoln County and the Mescalero Apache Tribe, reads a news release from the governor’s press office.

“This is a major disaster,” Heinrich said as he and Lujan spoke with the Biden administration to get quick approval of the declaration.

Other sources of wildfires include lightning and downed power lines. Sometimes fires can be started accidentally by people who unintentionally leave campfires or fail to completely extinguish a campfire.

Anyone with information about the cause of the fires is asked to call the FBI at 1-800-225-5324 or submit information online at tips.fbi.gov. People can also text “BIAMMU” to 847411 then “MESCALERO FIRE + tip” or just BIAMMU to 847411 and tip.

Contributor: Mike Smith, Ruidoso News

Aaron Martinez can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @AMartinezEPT.

This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: New Mexico wildfires: FBI offers reward for information on deadly fires