Bureau of Indian Affairs provides update on investigation into South Fork Fire
RUIDOSO, N.M. (KRQE) – One month after the discovery of the destructive and deadly South Fork Fire that burned in and around Ruidoso, the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) said wildland fire and law enforcement investigators are going to release a complete investigation report of the fire.
The South Fork Fire was determined to be caused by lightning sometime prior to the fire’s detection on June 17. BIA said officials are still in the investigation phase and are working on compiling the investigation report.
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Several other agencies apart from BIA, including the Office of Justice Services, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, New Mexico State Parks, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation began investigating the fire on June 18.
Investigators are analyzing lightning occurrence data, lidar, and other tracking of indicator burn patterns, BIA said. The South Fork Fire and the nearby Salt Fire were both discovered on June 17 on the Mescalero Apache Reservation.
The cause of the Salt Fire remains under investigation. The FBI is offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for starting the fire.
Anyone who may have information about the cause of the Salt Fire is asked to either call 1-800-CALL-FBI, or text a detailed anonymous tip to “BIAMMU” (mobile number 847411). Tips may also be submitted online at tips.fbi.gov.
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