'This is at a disaster level most folks haven't been around'

RUIDOSO — There are 29 people missing and being treated as a search and rescue mission in this village in the wake of the South Fork and Salt wildfires, authorities confirmed Monday.

While the investigation into its the fires' origin continues, some full-time Ruidoso and Ruidoso Downs residents came back on Monday to look at their properties.

Don Spencer, however, said in a Monday phone interview that the search and rescue operations prevented his return to his property in Ruidoso. He already knows his house burned down.

"This is at a disaster level most folks haven't been around," he said.

The FBI is offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and convictions of the person or people responsible for starting the South Fork and Salt fires. A spokeswoman on Monday wouldn't say whether the fires are believed to be "human caused."

The Mescalero Apache Tribe website states, "For the past 3 weeks, the reservation has had a few fires start. BIA Fire Management is aware and monitoring the situation. If you see something suspicious or peculiar, call Mescalero BIA Dispatch at 575-464-4479." The post wasn't dated.

The website also said people could report tips anonymously for information "on possible arrest or conviction due to arson. SOMEONE KNOWS."

As of Monday morning, the larger South Fork Fire north of Ruidoso had blackened 17,551 acres and was 37% contained, the Southwest Area Incident Management Team said. The Salt Fire south of Ruidoso had burned 7,816 acres and was 7% contained, it said.

'I want to see what I have left'

At 7 a.m. Monday, dozens and dozens of people parked on the side of U.S. Highway 70 westbound in Ruidoso as they waited to see whether they even have a home to go back to.

Ruidoso real estate broker Laurie Jones was one of the first in line. Sitting in her pickup with her 4-year-old Australian shepherd named Scout, she said she was not sure what to expect.

"I want to see what I have left," she said.

Robert Greenamyer, who sat next to Jones, said he has spent the past few days in Cloudcroft preparing for the trip back to Ruidoso.

"You just have no idea what to expect," he said. "We want to get in there and see, (and) what we do depends on what we see."

The best-case scenario is the house is there. Even if it is, "we don't have power, gas and water," Greenamyer said. "The worst-case scenario is the house is gone and (I) need to find another place."

Spencer, who is staying at a friend's house, said he was glad when Ruidoso and Ruidoso Downs officials decided residents at least could come back.

"We can't start building houses if we don't have anyone who can use a hammer," he said. "We cannot start rebuilding this place until we have folks who can restock the supermarkets."

At 8 a.m., New Mexico State Police let the cavalcade of vehicles proceed onto New Mexico Highway 48 at what locals call the "Y," which splits highways 70 and 48. As people drove down the road, they found several empty parking lots as well as streets blocked off by the National Guard or various New Mexico law enforcement agencies.

Residents weren't allowed to go in at the no entry/exclusions zones, which are classified as crime scenes and are undergoing recovery efforts. As of Monday afternoon, Village of Ruidoso spokeswoman Kerry Gladden said there are 29 people unaccounted for. Urban Search and Rescue K-9 strike teams are actively working in these zones, and access will be restricted until the teams have completed their work.

Dave Millsap and his wife, Carol Boggs, lost their home and can't see their property. Millsap, who is staying outside Ruidoso, said he couldn't get back to look at the damage.

"I'm fine with it because I've seen pictures of it," he said. "(But) I would love for some kind of closure so we could go around the house and cry or whatever we need to do."

'Would love for some kind of closure'

Kenny Espinosa was working on a travel trailer outside his Ruidoso home with his brother, Martin Espinosa, on Monday. A week earlier, Kenny had dropped the trailer off at a secure location while evacuating because of the South Fork fire.

"We have been here our whole lives," Martin said. "We lived through a lot of fires, but this one was the first time they had to evacuate an entire village."

Their homes were spared from the fire, which Martin said "was pretty relieving."

Unfortunately, their sister, Shelia Davis, and her family lost their home near the Alto Cafe, Martin said. The trailer that was left during the evacuation is now going to be used by Davis' family until its members can get back on their feet.

Even those whose homes are still standing, there are many in the area that do not have water, gas and power.

Jones said her home is OK and prays that everything gets back on "sooner or later."

PNM said on a Facebook post that as of 8 a.m. Monday, it had restored power to 1,204 customers and was working to restore power to its other 2,900 customers.

Jones and others at least have places that are still standing despite the utility issues. People like Spencer and Dave Millsap, who is staying with a friend, aren't so fortunate.

Millsap said he took a morning drive on U.S. Highway 54 between Alamogordo and Carrizozo and watched the sunrise.

It was so beautiful, he said, but on the other side of the Sierra Blancas is "pure hell."