Searching for friends and family in the South Fork or Salt fires? Find and leave messages here.

Shaun Griswold
·9 min read

Kelsy Bagron holds her 5-year-old box terrier Gypsy as she talks to her father, Mike Dvorak, inside the Eastern New Mexico University-Roswell gym. The gym is being used as an evacuation center for people who have been displaced by fires in and around Ruidoso. (Photo by Gregory R.C. Hasman / Albuquerque Journal) PHOTO CANNOT BE REPUBLISHED

As people evacuate from the South Fork and Salt fires, Source New Mexico is working with KUNM and other news outlets to help people connect with loved ones and friends. We set up a Google Voice number and Speak Pipe for you to record messages for people you are searching for or to let friends and family know you are safe.

We will post transcripts of those messages here. We may also broadcast these on air and a reporter may call you to follow up and interview you.

Please follow these guidelines:

  • Leave your first and last name, and spell them

  • Tell us where you are from

  • Leave your message

The number to call is ‪(505) 738-4020. You can also visit the KUNM website and leave a message there. There is also a community social media page called Reunite Ruidoso, that was set up for people to post messages for loved ones. There is also an online form the group is using to find missing people.

NOTE: The Emergency Operations Center has been moved to Fire Station 1 according to the https://www.ruidoso-nm.gov/south-fork-fire. The number there is 202-794-5044.

Messages:

All names are spelled as transcribed to from spelling shared on the call. Please contact Editor Shaun Griswold at sgriswold@sourcenm.com if you would like us to remove a message. We will update when more are submitted.

  • Hi, my name is Angela Arguedas from Alamogordo. I’m looking for my dad. Victor Arguedas. He’s from Ruidoso and he’s supposed to be in evacuation, but I haven’t heard anything from him. And so if someone, if anyone hears about them, or if he’s there, if someone could please give me a call back at 575-937-6625, thank you.

  • My name is Cyndi Cadena. I need a welfare check for my father, Jesse Cadena, who goes by Jesus. He lives at 116 Miriam Street, Ruidoso Downs. He’s 83 years old and didn’t want to leave the premises. He is on oxygen. My phone number is 575-639-3747. He could also be at 102 Merriam Drive with my brother-in-law, Rob Taylor. We haven’t heard from them. Thank you.

  • Hello, this is Juan and Kiana Cortez. We’re looking for family — CJ DeYoung, Wendy DeYoung, Char Meek and David Meek. [Spellings approximate] Call us at 469-507-1261. We need to get in contact with him. We haven’t been able to. Thank you.

  • Hello, my name is Dennis Harriman. And I’m searching to find the whereabouts of Pat and Dan Jones from Ruidoso. I want to make sure they’re okay and and got out. My phone number is 619-598-3339. Pat’s brother,. Henry, is trying to get in touch with her also. Please if we can get that message to her and have her call. Either either Henry or myself. It would be appreciated. Thank you so much. God bless.

  • My name is Chris Murphy. I’m looking for my mother, Carolyn Murphy, who was being evacuated from Ruidoso. And any help that I can get would be much appreciated. Thank you. My number is 703-444-9256.

  • Hi, this is Susy Barrera. I am from Reno, Nevada. I am looking for my dad, Rogelio Barrera. If anybody knows about him you can reach me at 775-980-9071. Thank you.

  • Dorothy Lemos, I’m calling from Florida. This is for my mother, Delfina Pearl de la Torre. She called me last from Capitan and she didn’t tell me which shelter she was in. Please see if she could give me a call or let me know that she’s okay. Thank you.

  • Dorothy Lemos, I’m calling from Florida. This is for my mother, Delfina Pearl de la Torre. She called me last from Capitan and she didn’t tell me which shelter she was in. Please see if she could give me a call or let me know that she’s okay. Thank you.

  • Hello my name is Angel Aguirre. I’m looking for my mother and father, Yolanda Aguirre and Angel Aguirre. They were in Ruidoso and I’m in California.

  • My name is Martha Barraza. I’m from Albuquerque. I am looking for my uncle Alfredo Monarrez. His address is in Ruidoso. We have not heard from him since the fire started and we are worried and we are trying to locate him and make sure he’s okay. I can be reached at 505-228-8582. Thank you.

  • My name is Don Ortega. I’m from Ruidoso. And I’m worried about one of our neighbors, Larry Nix. His number is 432-638-4502. I try to call him and pick up the phone. And I texted him to contact me, let me know he’s all right. And he hasn’t done that and we left the fire Monday and my other neighbor left the fire. But he’s the only neighbor that hasn’t checked in with our association. And that’s why I was worried. Thank you. My number is 432-288-2542.

  • First name Shay Matthews. I’m from Costa Mesa. I’m looking for my brother Scott Tarver. He lives in Ruidoso Brady Canyon.

  • My name is Ellen Darity. My phone number is 580-656-4431. I’m from Marlow Oklahoma, and I was just calling to make sure our friends Betty and Philip Slay also owners of The Riverdeck are safe. And please let me know. Thank you.

  • Debbie Terwelp. I’m looking for my brother, Mark Terwelp. He was living in Ruiodoso. I haven’t heard from him. Thank you.

  • If you are having difficulty locating a missing loved one due to a disaster event, please call 1-800-Red Cross (1-800-733-2767) for reunification support.

South Fork/Salt Fires Information Hub

Shelters are available at the following locations:

· The Inn of the Mountain Gods Convention Center, 287 Carrizo Canyon Road, Mescalero

· Eastern New Mexico University-Roswell Gym, 52 B University Blvd.

· Eastern New Mexico State Fairgrounds, 2500 SE Main St., Roswell

· New Mexico Military Institute Athletic Center, 101 W College Blvd., Roswell

· Church on the Move, 901 W. Brasher Rd., Roswell

· Church on the Move Dream Center, 2700 W. Second, Ruidoso

· Capitan High School, 519 Smokey Bear Blvd., Capitan

· Carrizozo High School, 800 D Ave., Carrizozo

· Christ Community Church, 2960 N Scenic Dr., Alamogordo

· The New Mexico Military Institute, 101 W. College Blvd, and Roswell Civic Center, 912 N. Main Street, are accepting evacuees sheltering with leashed pets.

Evacuation of large animals/livestock:

ENM Fairgrounds, 2500 S.E. Main, in Roswell, and Lea County Fairgrounds, 101 S. Commercial Street, Lovington, are offering stable space and RV hookups. Contact Lea County Fairgrounds Director Wyatt Duncan at 575-333-0252.

The Southern New Mexico Community Foundation in partnership with the Community Foundation of Lincoln County is currently directing efforts to Lincoln and Otero counties through the Greatest Needs Impact Fund. This fund provides financial resources to support the immediate and long-term recovery needs for the people, animals, and places affected by the devastating wildfires in Southern New Mexico. The fund is also supported by the ongoing Shelter Fund, New Mexico Wildfire Relief Fund, and Emergency Action Fund held within the Albuquerque Community Foundation. Those wishing to contribute can do so here.

Individuals sensitive to wildfire smoke should take precautions and use the New Mexico Department of Health 5-3-1 Visibility Method to determine if it’s safe to be outside. Learn more at https://nmtracking.doh.nm.gov/environment/air/FireAndSmoke.html

Check current smoke conditions in your area here: https://fire.airnow.gov/.

Social Media/ Internet:

More information about shelters and evacuations can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/villageofruidoso
https://www.facebook.com/mescaleroapachetribe

Donations

Support Mescalero Apache Tribe’s Fire Relief

Community Foundation of Southern New Mexico 

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