Bureau of Indian Affairs provides update on South Fork Fire investigation

RUIDOSO, NM (KRQE) – One month after the discovery of the destructive and deadly South Fork Fire that raged in and around Ruidoso, the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) announced that wildfire investigators and law enforcement agencies will release a full investigation report on the fire.

The South Fork fire was determined to have been caused by a lightning strike sometime before the fire was detected on June 17. According to the BIA, officials are still in the investigation phase and are working to compile the investigation report.

In addition to the BIA, several other agencies, including the Office of Justice Services, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, New Mexico State Parks and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, began investigating the fire on June 18.

Investigators are analyzing data from lightning events, lidar and other methods to track fire patterns, the BIA said. Both the South Fork Fire and the nearby Salt Fire were discovered on June 17 on the Mescalero Apache Reservation.

The cause of the Salt Fire remains under investigation. The FBI is offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the arson.

Anyone with information about the cause of the Salt Fire is asked to either call 1-800-CALL-FBI or text a detailed anonymous tip to “BIAMMU” (cell number 847411). Tips can also be submitted online at tips.fbi.gov.