See South Fork Fire and Salt Fire images near Ruidoso (2024)

A view shows the remains of the Swiss Chalet Hotel and surrounding area damaged in the South Fork Fire in northern Ruidoso, New Mexico, U.S. June 18, 2024. REUTERS/Kaylee Greenlee Beal

Firefighters, hotshots and other emergency response officials triage responses to the South Fork Fire in Ruidoso, New Mexico, U.S. June 17, 2024. REUTERS/Kaylee Greenlee Beal

A view shows the extensive forest damage due to the South Fork Fire at Cedar Creek in Ruidoso, New Mexico, U.S. June 18, 2024. REUTERS/Kaylee Greenlee Beal

Smoke from the South Fork Fire covering the sky is seen through a pine tree in Ruidoso, New Mexico, U.S. June 17, 2024. REUTERS/Kaylee Greenlee Beal

Smoke from the South Fork Fire casts an orange glow over a ranger station as it advances towards Cedar Creek in Ruidoso, New Mexico, U.S. June 17, 2024. REUTERS/Kaylee Greenlee Beal

Firefighters wait to deploy to the South Fork Fire as it advances towards Cedar Creek in Ruidoso, New Mexico, U.S. June 17, 2024. REUTERS/Kaylee Greenlee Beal

A satellite image shows an overview of the South Fork wildfire, in Ruidoso, New Mexico, U.S., June 19, 2024. Maxar Technologies/Handout via REUTERS.

A satellite image shows burnt homes, during wildfires, in Ruidoso, New Mexico, U.S., February 21, 2024. Maxar Technologies/Handout via REUTERS. THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES. MANDATORY CREDIT. MUST NOT OBSCURE LOGO

A rainstorm caused flash flooding carrying debris, ash and hail through Cedar Creek as the South Fork Fire continues to burn in Ruidoso, New Mexico, U.S. June 19, 2024. REUTERS/Kaylee Greenlee Beal

An airtanker drops fire retardant over the Salt fire as it nears the town of Ruidoso, New Mexico, U.S., June 19, 2024. REUTERS/Adrees Latif

A 'Hot Shot' firefighter crew from South Dakota moves dirt around where earth continues to smolder in the Village of Ruidoso on June 19, 2024 after the South Fork Fire destroyed dozens of homes in the Village of Ruidoso.

Homes and structures were destroyed by the South Fork Fire in the Village of Ruidoso, New Mexico. 1400 structures were damaged by the fire according to New Mexico officials. In this photo a vehicle can be seen destroyed on June 19, 2024.

Homes and structures that were destroyed by the South Fork Fire in the Village of Ruidoso, New Mexico, can be seen Wednesday, June 19, 2024.

A plume of smoke rises from the South Fork fire as a vehicle passes through the evacuated town of Ruidoso, New Mexico, U.S., June 19, 2024. REUTERS/Adrees Latif

A woman is consoled by a police officer Wednesday, June 19, 2024, after arriving at a cabin that was destroyed by the South Fork Fire in the Village of Ruidoso, New Mexico.

A deer is seen in between homes and structures burned by the South Fork Fire in the Village of Ruidoso, New Mexico, Wednesday, June 19, 2024.

Homes and structures were destroyed by the South Fork Fire in the Village of Ruidoso, New Mexico, Wednesday, June 19, 2024.

Homes and structures were destroyed by the South Fork Fire in the Village of Ruidoso, New Mexico, as seen Wednesday, June 19, 2024.

Homes and structures were destroyed by the South Fork Fire in the Village of Ruidoso, New Mexico. 1400 structures were damaged by the fire according to New Mexico officials. In this June 19, 2024 photo a deer can be seen on a property that was destroyed.

Homes and structures were destroyed by the South Fork Fire in Village of Ruidoso, New Mexico. 1400 structures were damaged by the fire according to New Mexico officials. In this June 19, 2024 photo, deer are seen on a property that was destroyed .

Destroyed furniture sits outside a levelled residence in the aftermath of the South Fork fire in Alto, New Mexico, U.S., June 19, 2024. REUTERS/Adrees Latif

A sign indicating the presence of a gas pipeline is seen damaged in the aftermath of the South Fork fire in Alto, New Mexico, U.S., June 19, 2024. REUTERS/Adrees Latif

A residence lies damaged in the aftermath of the South Fork fire in Alto, New Mexico, U.S., June 19, 2024. REUTERS/Adrees Latif

Vehicles sit outside a destroyed residence in the aftermath of the South Fork fire in Alto, New Mexico, U.S., June 19, 2024. REUTERS/Adrees Latif

A burned car stands in front of a ruined building as the South Fork Fire burned most of the structures in Cedar Creek after mass evacuations of the village of Ruidoso, New Mexico, U.S. June 18, 2024. REUTERS/Kaylee Greenlee Beal

National Guard troops and firefighters unload cases of water outside a command station in Ruidoso, New Mexico, U.S. June 18, 2024. REUTERS/Kaylee Greenlee Beal

Smoke rises as the South Fork Fire burned most of the structures in Cedar Creek after mass evacuations of the village of Ruidoso, New Mexico, U.S. June 18, 2024. REUTERS/Kaylee Greenlee Beal

Smoke rises as the South Fork Fire left behind extensive property and forest damage in northern Ruidoso, New Mexico, U.S. June 18, 2024. REUTERS/Kaylee Greenlee Beal

Charlie Barron holds his head in his hands after settling in at an emergency shelter where university and local officials set up cots and other Red Cross resources for those under evacuation orders because of the South Fork Fire, at Eastern New Mexico University-Roswell in Roswell, New Mexico, U.S. June 17, 2024. REUTERS/Kaylee Greenlee Beal

People arrive at an emergency shelter where university and local officials set up cots and other Red Cross resources for those under evacuation orders because of the South Fork Fire, at Eastern New Mexico University-Roswell in Roswell, New Mexico, U.S. June 17, 2024. REUTERS/Kaylee Greenlee Beal

A firefighter stands on a firetruck as they and hotshots battle remnants of the South Fork Fire while it ravages northern Ruidoso, New Mexico, U.S. June 18, 2024. REUTERS/Kaylee Greenlee Beal

Smoke rises as the South Fork Fire continues to smolder in northern Ruidoso, New Mexico, U.S. June 18, 2024. REUTERS/Kaylee Greenlee Beal

Smoke plumes from the South Fork Fire rise above the tree line as the fire progresses from the Mescalero Apache Indian Reservation to the Lincoln National Forest causing mandatory evacuations in Ruidoso, New Mexico, U.S. June 17, 2024. REUTERS/Kaylee Greenlee Beal

Smoke from the South Fork Fire covers the sun, casting an orange light across the Lincoln National Forest at Cedar Creek in Ruidoso, New Mexico, U.S. June 17, 2024. REUTERS/Kaylee Greenlee Beal

Smoke rises from a wildfire in Ruidoso, New Mexico, U.S., June 17, 2024, in this picture obtained from social media.

Smoke from the South Fork Fire covers the sun, casting an orange light across the Lincoln National Forest at Cedar Creek, in Ruidoso, New Mexico, U.S. June 17, 2024. REUTERS/Kaylee Greenlee Beal

Smoke pluming from the South Fork Fire rises above the tree line as the fire progresses from the Mescalero Apache Reservation to the Lincoln National Forest causing mandatory evacuations in Ruidoso, New Mexico, U.S. June 17, 2024. REUTERS/Kaylee Greenlee Beal

Smoke from the South Fork Fire covers the sun, casting an orange light across the Lincoln National Forest at Cedar Creek, in Ruidoso, New Mexico, U.S. June 17, 2024. REUTERS/Kaylee Greenlee Beal

Smoke from the South Fork Fire covers the sun, casting an orange light across the Lincoln National Forest at Cedar Creek, in Ruidoso, New Mexico, U.S. June 17, 2024. REUTERS/Kaylee Greenlee Beal

Smoke plumes from the South Fork Fire that caused mandatory evacuations in Ruidoso, New Mexico, are seen from the evacuation route in Roswell, New Mexico, U.S. June 17, 2024. REUTERS/Kaylee Greenlee Beal

A 'Hot Shot' crew from South Dakota moves dirt around where earth continues to smolder in the Village of Ruidoso on June 19, 2024.

Melted metal is seen near a destroyed vehicle in the Village of Ruidoso on June 19, 2024.

A herd of deer is seen in between homes and structures burnt by the South Fork Fire in the Village of Ruidoso, New Mexico, Wednesday, June 19, 2024.

A Lincoln County Sheriff Department vehicle is seen burnt by the South Fork Fire in the Village of Ruidoso, New Mexico, Wednesday, June 19, 2024.

Homes and structures were destroyed by the South Fork Fire in the Village of Ruidoso, New Mexico. This photo was taken Wednesday, June 19, 2024.

Homes and structures were destroyed by the South Fork Fire in the Village of Ruidoso, New Mexico. This photo was taken Wednesday, June 19, 2024.

Inn of the Mountain Gods Resort & Casino is seen while the South Fork Fire burns in the back outside the Village of Ruidoso, New Mexico, Wednesday, June 19, 2024.

Homes and structures were destroyed by the South Fork Fire in the Village of Ruidoso, New Mexico. This photo was taken Wednesday, June 19, 2024.

A water leak is seen inside the home after it was destroyed by the South Fork Fire in the Village of Ruidoso, New Mexico, Wednesday, June 19, 2024.

Homes and structures were destroyed by the South Fork Fire in the Village of Ruidoso, New Mexico, Wednesday, June 19, 2024.

Homes and structures were destroyed by the South Fork Fire in the Village of Ruidoso, New Mexico. Deer are seen on a property that was destroyed by the fire. This photo was taken Wednesday, June 19, 2024.

Burnt trees in the Village of Ruidoso, New Mexico are photographed on June 19, 2024 after the South Fork Fire destroyed homes and structures.

Homes and structures were destroyed by the South Fork Fire in Village of Ruidoso, New Mexico. 1400 structures were damaged by the fire according to New Mexico officials. In this June 19, 2024 photo deer are seen on a property that was destroyed.

Burnt trees in the Village of Ruidoso, New Mexico are photographed on June 19, 2024 after the South Fork Fire destroyed homes and structures.

Homes and structures were destroyed by the South Fork Fire in Village of Ruidoso, New Mexico. 1400 structures were damaged by the fire according to New Mexico officials. In this June 19, 2024 photo deer are seen on a property that was destroyed.

Burnt trees in the Village of Ruidoso, New Mexico are photographed on June 19, 2024 after the South Fork Fire destroyed homes and structures.

Burnt trees in the Village of Ruidoso, New Mexico are photographed on June 19, 2024 after the South Fork Fire destroyed homes and structures.

Homes and structures were destroyed by the South Fork Fire in the Village of Ruidoso, New Mexico. 1400 structures were damaged by the fire according to New Mexico officials. In this photo trees can be seen completely burnt on June 19, 2024.

Homes and structures were destroyed by the South Fork Fire in the Village of Ruidoso, New Mexico. 1400 structures were damaged by the fire according to New Mexico officials.

Homes and structures were destroyed by the South Fork Fire in the Village of Ruidoso, New Mexico. In this photo a smoldering tree log burns near a destroyed home on June 19, 2024.

Homes and structures were destroyed by the South Fork Fire in the Village of Ruidoso, New Mexico. 1400 structures were damaged by the fire according to New Mexico officials. In this photo a vehicle can be seen destroyed on June 19, 2024.