Ruidoso devastated by flooding from wildfire burn scars. See impact of the floodwaters

Aaron A. Bedoya, El Paso Times
Updated ·2 min read
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Devastating flooding is creating more chaos in the village of Ruidoso. Rainfall transformed roads into rushing rivers, leaving people trapped in homes and vehicles submerged.

Residents are still reeling from the deadly South Fork and Salt Fire and were plagued by dangerous flash flooding Wednesday, July 10, caused by burn scars left behind by wildfires.

While the South Fork and Salt Fire are nearly fully contained, burn scars create massive flooding, even with the slightest amount of rainfall. The wildfires were discovered June 17, on the Mescalero Reservation west of the village of Ruidoso.

With more storms on the way, residents are asked to watch for evacuations, road closures and other alerts issued by the village of Ruidoso.

Ruidoso Downs race track update

Horse racing at Ruidoso Downs Rack Track & Casino is still a go for the upcoming weekend, July 5-7. Crews are still working on the track after flooding in recent days. The track held up well after the most recent floods earlier this week, Ruidoso Downs officials said.

Only quarter horse racing is taking place as the damage to part of the track still won't allow for thoroughbred racing.

The weather forecast calls for sunny or mostly sunny days from Friday, July 12 through Sunday, July 14. Rainbow Futurity and Rainbow Juvenile for 2-year-old quarter horses are scheduled for Sunday, July 14. The first race begins at 12:30 p.m. each day.

Ruidoso flooding scenes

View of vehicles stranded in rushing flood waters on a road in Ruidoso, New Mexico, U.S., July 10, 2024, in this screengrab obtained from a social media video.
View of vehicles stranded in rushing flood waters on a road in Ruidoso, New Mexico, U.S., July 10, 2024, in this screengrab obtained from a social media video.
View of vehicles stranded in rushing flood waters on a road in Ruidoso, New Mexico, U.S., July 10, 2024, in this screengrab obtained from a social media video.
View of vehicles stranded in rushing flood waters on a road in Ruidoso, New Mexico, U.S., July 10, 2024, in this screengrab obtained from a social media video.
Flood water rushes through a road in Ruidoso, New Mexico, U.S. July 10, 2024, in this screengrab obtained from a social media video.
Flood water rushes through a road in Ruidoso, New Mexico, U.S. July 10, 2024, in this screengrab obtained from a social media video.

Natassia Paloma and Felix Chavez contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Ruidoso flooding: Photos, videos of flood waters in New Mexico