Little Bear losses pass $22 million

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - Beyond the disruption of thousands of lives, the steep financial toll of the Little Bear Fire near Ruidoso is becoming clearer.

Between burned homes and property Lincoln County emergency managers estimate the loss at about $22.5 million.

In all 224 homes and 11 outbuildings were destroyed in the mountain subdivisions near Ruidoso.

Lincoln County completed its assessment of the properties Thursday and estimates the total loss at more than $22 million.

That number though only covers the property itself not what was inside the homes some of which you cannot put a price on.

To put this fire in perspective, costs of the Cerro Grande fire that ripped through Los Alamos in 2000 leaving more than 400 families homeless reached nearly $1 billion when all was said and done making it the most expensive fire in New Mexico history.

Once insurance claims are filed emergency managers in Lincoln County believe the cost of the lightning-cause Little Bear Fire will grow much larger, too.

The cost of fighting the fire is also growing.  As of Thursday night it was closing in on $8 million.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has already announced it will cover the majority of those costs.