Damage totals grow in Little Bear Fire

RUIDOSO, N.M. (KRQE) - Damage reports are coming in from the Little Bear Fire and it has caused massive losses.

The fire has burned 234 structures and is 35 percent contained.

Tuesday night's estimated structure damage jumped by about 80 and 224 of them are homes.

The fire has grown a little more than 1,200 acres. That puts the blaze at more than 37,000 acres Wednesday.

However, calmer weather conditions the past two days plus more than 1,000 personnel has allowed crews to make more progress.

As damage assessments are being done, officials say they are working on compiling a list of homes destroyed and matching them with homeowners.

”We also plan on publishing a number where homeowners can call and get information,” David Shell said. “We know these homeowners want this information as quickly as possible and we're working very quickly to get this info to them.”

Officials are coordinating services to help those to be notified.

They are also working on is where people can go with their animals.

”As they're struggling with everything else they have to deal with we can provide some support avenues for their large and small animals as well as chickens and goats and everything else that everybody considers part of their animal family,” Courtney McBride said.

A federal hazard team is on its way to help assess the damage.

They will also help notify homeowners of their property's condition but they want to make sure it’s accurate and that everybody receives it around the same time.

Officials say they hope to publish that phone number for people to call about their homes sometime Wednesday, but they couldn't give a specific time when they will start notifying people.

The president is expected to sign a bill Wednesday that will provide money to buy up to seven new large air tankers.

The white house says the bill will support the nation's ability to fight wildfires by enabling the forest service to speed up the contracting of the next generation of air tankers.

The house and senate passed the measure last week.