The South Fork Fire is listed at 26% contained, and the Salt Fire is listed at 7% containment as of last night.
The combined burn for the South Fork and Salt Fire is listed at 24,266 acres.
Investigations are underway.
According to the Southwest Area Incident Management Team, damage and structure assessments have begun. Over 1,400 structures were affected by the fire.
The FBI joined the investigation into the cause of the fires. Investigators ask for those with information and tips to call 1-800-225-5324.
Thursday, President Biden approved a Major Disaster Declaration for New Mexico, releasing federal funds.
At the time of writing, there are two confirmed fatalities.
Patrick Pearson was found near the Swiss Chalet Inn burn site where he reportedly lived. Pearson was a bass guitarist who played at Quarters Nightclub and Grill in Ruidoso.
The club honored Pearson on their Facebook page, saying,
“Patrick was just flat out, good people. He was the steady rhythm that swept your boots across the dance floor. He was a dear friend to our owner, our patrons, and our employees. He was a kind soul, a smooth voice, a rare talent.
And he stayed in time, all the time. So until next time Pat, we at The Quarters will miss you dearly.”
The second victim of the fire, found in a burned car at Ranier Road, remains unidentified.
As responders continue to fight the fire, the Incident Management Team recently updated the community on what to expect in coming days.
Utilites—power, phone service, and internet— are a focus of repair in clean up efforts. Debris flows and flash flooding cause concerns, with thunderstorms expected throughout the week.
The Incident Management Team informed the public that a Verizon “COW” was in place to boost cell-service for the time being.
The Otero County Electric Cooperative provides member updates through email and their Facebook page.
You can find resources, shelter info, and timely fire updates through the Watch Duty app.
Cloudcroft EMS/Fire Chief Erich Wuersching released the village Emergency Alert protocols earlier this week. Read on how to be notified of an emergency, here.
Read our daily coverage of the fires: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday.
We look forward to sharing our recent interview with the Sacramento Hotshots, who are fighting the blaze, this Sunday.