Nearly 30 Arkansans from various fire departments and emergency teams across the state helped with search and rescue efforts in New Mexico, where deadly wildfires exacerbated the flood risk for communities.

Danny Akines, a training and logistics officer from the Pulaski County Office of Emergency Management, was one of those deployed to monitor Las Vegas, a town of about 13,000 near Sante Fe, and Ruidoso, a small mountain village about 200 miles south of Albuquerque.

From June 29 to July 13, Akines traveled with the Arkansas team back and forth from Las Vegas to Ruidoso monitoring potential flash floods and training for swift water rescue. Their skills were put to the test during two days of major flooding in Ruidoso where they rescued 21 people and three dogs, evacuated 14 people and reported 15 more who remained in place.

“We get called to go right around the corner, out of sight of where we’re at, and there’s a newborn baby and two women trapped in a car,” Akines recalled of his first water rescue. “They’ve been kind of washed sideways…and the current is taking them off.”

Over the two most intensive days of the two-week trip, the Arkansas team spent eight hours responding to assistance calls of people trapped in their homes or cars. The water, which traveled down a nearby mountain faster than anything Akines said he’s ever seen in Arkansas, carried logs, boulders and debris from homes destroyed in the wildfires.

“It goes fast, but that’s what we went for,” Akines said. “We hate that this type of event is happening to those people, but we’re there to help. We’re glad we’re there when it happens.”

FEMA trailers on their way to Ruidoso; at least 856 homes lost

No flood-related fatalities have been reported, though two people were reported dead from the wildfires that destroyed at least 850 houses in New Mexico, according to a report from Source NM. The Federal Emergency Management Agency recently approved the state’s request for temporary housing, which should provide relief for people who are couch surfing or staying in hotels.

“We’ve got them spread out,” Ruidoso Mayor Lynn Crawford told Source NM. “We’re trying not to lose them forever, because we need them to work and live here.”

After the Arkansas rescue team safely made contact with people in need, they transported them to higher ground or to a shelter managed by the local community. Akines said local officials and community members expressed their appreciation throughout their presence in the area. 

“We’re just glad that we’re able to help people,” Akines said. “Whether it’s here, there or wherever. All the guys are very professional, no matter where we go, and they’re very dedicated.”

The New Mexico project marked Akines’ third deployment with the Pulaski County Office of Emergency Management, where he has volunteered since 2009 and worked full time for two years. His other trips included providing aid in Texas and Florida as hurricanes threatened the states.

The Arkansas agencies footed the initial bills for the emergency deployment, though the state is expected to provide a reimbursement, Akines said. New Mexico officials will then reimburse the state of Arkansas for its services.

RUIDOSO, N.M. (AP) — A mountain village in southern New Mexico that was ravaged by wildfires last month is under a new flash flood watch, authorities said Sunday.

The National Weather Service said heavy rain was forecast for Ruidoso on Sunday with the flash flood warning in effect until 6 a.m. Monday. Flash flood advisories also were in effect Friday and Saturday.

As a precaution, four roads in the Ruidoso area were either closed or have restricted access on Sunday due to runoff from heavy rain following burn scars left by the recent wildfires.

About 100 National Guardsmen were in Ruidoso on Sunday. They were handing out sandbags, helping with road repair and implementing flooding mitigation.

New Mexico National Guard officials said at least 12 people were rescued from flooded roads Saturday and some residents had to evacuate from their water-damaged homes.

Ruidoso Downs Racetrack was forced to cut its schedule of Saturday races because of flash flooding concerns.

Wildfires killed two people and burned more than 25,000 acres in the Ruidoso community in June.

Of the 19 fast-flood emergencies since June 19 on the South Fork Fire and Salt Fire burn scar areas, Ruidoso has been included in 13 of them.

More than $6 million in federal assistance has been allotted to the region after President Joe Biden declared the region a major disaster area on June 20.

“You can’t help but feel for these folks. Ruidoso can’t seem to catch a break,” the National Guard wrote Sunday on its Facebook page.

The latest flooding incident at Ruidoso Downs will be the final chapter in the track’s tumultuous 2024 season as the remainder of the meet will be transferred to The Downs at Albuquerque. The announcement was made July 21 following an agreement with state racing officials and Albuquerque owner Paul Blanchard.

“We are all working in coordination to do what is best for the New Mexico racing industry,” said Ruidoso Downs general manager Rich Baugh in a statement.

June wildfires devastated most of the surrounding area, destroying buildings and vegetation. Although the track was spared by the fire, the “burn scars” have allowed rainwater and debris to flow unopposed down the Rio Ruidoso, which runs through the middle of the racetrack and the barn area.

Flash flooding July 20 canceled the final races of the day’s card as it caused major damage to the race track and barn area as well as two bridges located near the entrance of the facility.

“The safety of our customers, employees and animals are most important,” Baugh said. “Ruidoso Downs will take the necessary steps over the course of the offseason to make our necessary repairs.”

The idea of shifting the Ruidso meet, which was scheduled to end Sept. 2, to Albuquerque was debated at a July 2 emergency meeting of the New Mexico Racing Commission. At the time, commissioners requested that Albuquerque work on a plan to open earlier than their scheduled Aug. 29 date.

COLLINS: NMRC Debates Moving Ruidoso T-Bred Races to Albuquerque

“We have planned for this to happen,” said NMRC Executive Director Izzy Trejo on the readiness of Albuquerque to start the meet. “It’s just a matter of moving staff and getting housing in Albuquerque on the fly.”

Trejo said that racing at Albuquerque could begin as early as July 26, but deferred to the tracks to make this decision official as the commission has not been involved in the details of the official plan at this time. Calls to the general managers of Ruidoso Downs and The Downs at Albuquerque were not immediately returned.

Meanwhile, Trejo said the NMRC is focused on getting everything ready for racing at Albuquerque, including readying the timing systems, photo finish camera, test barn, and making sure the track surface is safe.

In the statement, Baugh said there are “plenty of moving parts” to the decision as they work to reschedule some of the track’s major Quarter Horse races. In addition, the track was scheduled to host the New Mexico Bred Yearling Sale Aug. 9-10 and the Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale Aug. 31-Sept. 1. Baugh said plans call for the sales to be held in Tingley Coliseum in Albuquerque.

“We understand the tremendous economic impact of moving the remainder of the racing season will have on the Ruidoso community,” Baugh said. “We are left with little choice based on the current condition of our track, bridges and barn area. We have suffered a setback, but are determined to build back Ruidoso Downs and make it a beautiful facility and return racing here in 2025.”

This story may be updated.