Help offered in clearing burned homes

RUIDOSO, N.M. (KRQE) - Seasonal residents who lost homes and cabins in the Little Bear Fire are being encouraged to clear their properties while aid organizations are still active in the area.

The fire, started by lightning in the White Mountain Wilderness on June 4, charred more than 44,000 acres and razed nearly 250 homes and cabins before being contained.

With the assistance of volunteers from Samaritan's Purse and New Mexico Baptist Disaster relief, about half the home sites have been cleared and the debris hauled to landfills, according to Lincoln County Emergency Services.

Of the uncleared lots, the majority belong to part-time and seasonal residents.

The volunteers help sift through the ashes, and the Baptist group also is working to remove fire debris from property where the buildings were spared including cutting down burned trees.

The relief organizations have said they will stay as long as there's work to do, but they have yet to hear from about a third of the owners, a statement from Emergency Services said.

On Thursday a U.S. Forest Service spokesperson said anyone wanting assistance with their cleanup needed to sign up in the next few days.

Lincoln County Emergency Operations Center can e-mail or fax an application to homeowners out of the area who call (575) 258-INFO (4636). A friend or neighbor can fill out an application in person on the homeowner's behalf.

Samaritan’s Purse is based at the Church of the Nazarene, (575) 336-8032, while Baptist Disaster Relief is working out of the First Baptist Church in Ruidoso (575) 336-1068