Please keep the residents of Ruidoso in your prayers this week. As of Tuesday night, more than 150 homes and structures have been lost due to multiple wildfires, including the McBride Fire, which was up to 4,000 acres in size and started north of Ruidoso High School. Mandatory evacuations are taking place in parts of Ruidoso and Nogal Canyon to the north. The Red Cross is on site to assist. School has been cancelled in the area and a State of Emergency has been declared.
It’s very important to realize that these wildfires are touching on parts of the city itself. Firefighters are also battling wildfires near both Belen and Las Vegas, New Mexico.
The Carlsbad Fire Department has sent a team to assist in Ruidoso. Members of the Carlsbad group originally went to the fire in Nogal, but they may have been moved elsewhere. Our assistance included a brush truck, incident commander and three personnel. Eddy County has also sent two brush trucks and several firefighters to assist with these wildfires. The Lincoln County Fairgrounds, Roswell Animal Shelter, Otero Fairgrounds and the Eddy County Sheriff’s Posse has also offered to use its facility for anyone needing to temporarily find shelter for their horses.
We will certainly do what we can to assist our friends and neighbors who are battling wildfires across the state.
Updates on the McBride Fire are being posted here: https://www.facebook.com/McBrideFire2022/
Tuesday’s winds, in addition to helping spread wildfires around Ruidoso, had their own impact in Carlsbad and Eddy County, where sporting events were cancelled and the Sandpoint Landfill was closed for safety reasons. Increased potential for wildfires still exists. Please avoid any activity that could produce a flame or spark.
According to the Village of Ruidoso, anyone looking to make a donation or volunteer should call 575-258-6900 or 575-937-7785, 575-937-5059, 575-937-2816.
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Just a reminder that Carlsbad City Hall, and other city locations such as the library and museum, will be closed on Friday for the holiday. Our solid waste schedule will run as normal, however. Convenience Station hours are Monday through Saturday, from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Riverwalk Rec Center will also remain open Friday. If you are seeing this update on Wednesday, please don’t forget that the Riverwalk Recreation Center is holding an Easter celebration beginning at 3 p.m. on April 13. The Carlsbad Public Library has an ongoing Easter Egg hunt taking place every day through April 22. Please check it out.
Sincerely,
Carlsbad Mayor Dale Janway