FBI offers reward in deadly New Mexico wildfires investigation

The FBI is offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to an arrest and conviction in the deadly New Mexico wildfires.

The wildfires broke out last Monday near the village of Ruidoso, N.M., leaving two people dead and forcing thousands of residents to flee.

The FBI, in a notice over the weekend, said it was seeking public assistance in identifying the cause of the fires. However, the federal agency also suggested humans were responsible by offering a reward that leads to the arrest and conviction of “the person or persons responsible for starting the fires.”

The fires in southern New Mexico damaged or destroyed more than 1,400 structures, and nearly 1,000 homes were lost, The Associated Press reported, citing the Lincoln County Manager Randall Camp.

Full-time residents of Ruidoso were allowed to return to the area Monday morning, local officials said. Residents returned to homes that may be without gas, electricity and water and were told to bring at least one week’s worth of groceries and water.

President Biden issued a major disaster declaration for New Mexico last week, unlocking federal funding for impacted people in the Mescalero Apache Tribe and Lincoln County, per the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

The declaration allows for temporary housing and home repairs, loans for uninsured property losses and other programs, FEMA added.

As of Sunday, the South Fork Fire, which reached 26 square miles, was 26 percent contained, while the Salt Fire fanned out over 12 square miles and was 7 percent contained, according to the National Interagency Fire Center.

Full containment is not expected until July 15 as the South Fork and Salt fires continue to burn on both sides of Ruidoso, the AP reported.

The fires downed power lines and damaged water, sewer and gas lines and electric officials warned outages could be expected for several days.