FBI Offers $10,000 Reward to Help Find Arsonists of New Mexico Wildfires

The FBI wants to know who is responsible for the South Fork and Salt Fires around Ruidoso, offering up to $10,000 as a reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of “the person or persons responsible for starting the fires near Ruidoso, New Mexico,” according to its website.

The FBI’s Albuquerque field office declined to comment on whether or not the FBI believes the people started the fires on tribal land intentionally or whether it believes the same individuals started both fires, according to Thand Santa Fe New Mexico.

So far, the fires have destroyed more than 1,400 structures, including 500 homes, and killed two people, according to KOAT.

As the FBI searches for those behind the fire, President Joe Biden declared a major disaster underway in New Mexico on June 20. The declaration comes a day after Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham filed a request for a major disaster declaration, according to a press release from her office.

The declaration will provide assistance to individuals, households and businesses in affected areas of Lincoln County and the Mescalero Apache Tribe. The state hopes the government will later include Otero County in its disaster declaration.

“We applaud President Biden for approving the major disaster declaration so quickly,” said a press release issued by the entire New Mexico congressional delegation. “The South Fork and Salt fires are severe and threaten many communities, with two confirmed deaths and hundreds of homes and businesses already destroyed. Our hearts go out to the families of those lost in these fires and the thousands of New Mexicans who have been forced to flee their homes. And our gratitude goes out to the firefighters, first responders, local and tribal leaders, and neighboring communities who are helping to respond to this disaster. We will continue to work with FEMA and the state to ensure that Otero County and all New Mexicans impacted by this disaster receive the federal support they need.”

The federal government will also provide public assistance for emergency work and for the repair and replacement of damaged facilities.

This includes debris removal, emergency protective measures and direct federal assistance.

New Mexico Gov. Lujan Grisham signed executive orders June 20 to provide an additional $5.25 million in emergency funding to the Department of Homeland Security for its wildfire response efforts.

She also signed an agreement deploying the National Guard to support civil authorities during the emergency, according to a statement from her office.

Additionally, the U.S. Senate passed the bipartisan Fire Safety and Grants Act last week.

Introduced by U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich, a Democrat from New Mexico, in the Senate, the bill would reauthorize the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Fire and Emergency Response Personnel Grant Program and the Firefighter Assistance Grant Program through 2030 and the U.S. Fire Administration through 2028.

Since the bill passed the U.S. House of Representatives last month, it will likely become law.

The South Fork Fire grew to 16,614 acres over the weekend and was 26% contained, according to the state website. Meanwhile, the Salt Fire grew to 7,652 acres and was only 7% contained.