New Mexico
Team combs fire-ravaged New Mexico community for remains of the missing
As residents return to a fire-ravaged village in the mountains of southern New Mexico, the mayor on Monday warned them that some parts of Ruidoso remain off limits as special search and rescue teams comb the charred rubble along the hardest-hit streets.
They’re looking for the remains of people who are still unaccounted for after the South Fork and Salt fires ripped through the area just days ago, killing at least two people, forcing thousands to flee and destroying more than 1,500 structures.
Mayor Lynn Crawford put the number of missing at 29. Village officials said in a Sunday night update that the search teams have identified potential additional fatalities, but any confirmation will have to be made by investigators.
“The search and rescue teams are in there and they’re with canines and so they’re still going property to property to property,” Crawford said during his Monday morning radio address.
With cell service going down during the evacuations last week, it made communication nearly impossible. While service slowly is being restored, some residents said Monday they are still having a difficult time connecting.
The 29 people on the list have not been in touch with friends or family since last Monday. The list was larger just a day ago, but village officials have been using social media and working with the American Red Cross to mark evacuees as “safe” as soon as they are heard from.
Authorities have blocked traffic into so-called exclusion zones to ensure these areas remain undisturbed until they are officially cleared. The FBI also is investigating, offering up to $10,000 for information leading to the arrests and convictions of those responsible for the human-caused fires.
A charred car and the remains of the Swiss Chalet Hotel are shown after it was destroyed by the South Fork Fire in the mountain village of Ruidoso, N.M., Saturday, June 22, 2024. Credit: AP/Andres Leighton
The flames were first reported June 17. Within hours, the fires moved through tinder-dry parts of the Sacramento Mountains from Mescalero Apache tribal land toward Ruidoso. Evacuation orders included thousands of homes, businesses and the Ruidoso Downs horse track, prompting traffic jams as people dropped everything and fled.
Village officials estimate that several hundred homes were among the structures destroyed or damaged. Assessments continued Monday as some residents were allowed to return. Images shared on social media showed some homes reduced to ash, only their foundations or fireplaces left standing. Charred vehicles and twisted metal roofs were laying on hillsides where homes once stood.
Some properties were saved, although the ponderosa pines that once surrounded them had blackened trunks and their needles were singed.
The village set up temporary housing for about 500 people and food and other supplies were being distributed. Officials were encouraging residents who returned Monday to bring bottled water and a week’s worth of food as some utilities have yet to be restored.
Houses destroyed by the South Fork Fire are pictured in the mountain village of Ruidoso, N.M., Saturday, June 22, 2024. . Credit: AP/Andres Leighton
Several dozen members of the New Mexico Army and Air National Guard were stationed in Ruidoso to help. Utility workers also were installing new power poles and stringing wires throughout the community. Workers with the New Mexico Environment Department were testing the drinking water system.
President Joe Biden issued a disaster declaration for parts of southern New Mexico last Thursday, freeing up funding and resources to help with housing and other emergency work related to the fires.
The two fires have burned about 40 square miles (104 square kilometers). Monday brought another day of light rain and higher humidity levels, aiding firefighters as they bolstered lines around the perimeter. Full containment isn’t expected until July 15, according to fire officials.
Officials also warned residents to be mindful of the potential for flash flooding if more rain falls on the bare mountain slopes.
Kerry Gladden, a spokeswoman for the village of Ruidoso, noted that wildfires are nothing new to the Sacramento Mountains. But she called this “a whole other level of devastation.”
“It kind of takes your breath away when you see it,” she told The Associated Press. “And you know, we are resilient and we will rebuild and we will absolutely come back from this. But, boy, it’s hard to see it at this point.”
There’s only one thing UNLV forward Jalen Hill didn’t believe his teammate Dedan Thomas Jr. could accomplish on the basketball floor, and it’s going to cost him a steak dinner.
Thomas found himself ahead of the pack late in the first half and flashed a big smile as he started to measure his dribbles and steps toward the rim.
“I got the ball and thought I saw someone chasing me to block it, so I was like, ‘Yeah, I have to go dunk this,’” Thomas said.
The first slam of his collegiate career highlighted the Rebels’ 72-65 win over New Mexico State on Saturday at the Thomas & Mack Center.
A preseason discussion between Hill and Thomas resulted in the promise of the meal should Thomas throw one down in a game this season. Hill may not be the only one on the hook.
“He never shows that he can dunk at practice,” Hill laughed. “It’s exciting, because for a guy that doesn’t really dunk to get his first one, a lot of people owe him stuff.”
While the above-the-rim moment was a departure from the norm, it was business as usual otherwise for the sophomore point guard, who was once again the catalyst for much of what UNLV (4-1) was able to accomplish in a game in which it struggled from the field for long stretches.
He finished with 22 points, five rebounds and four assists as the Rebels held off the Aggies (3-2) in a physical affair that featured 50 fouls and a combined 33.3 percent shooting effort from the field.
Thomas got to the free-throw line 19 times and made 13 of the attempts.
“We knew they were a physical team, so I tried to use that aggression against them,” he said. “Just drawing fouls and trying to get to the line as much as possible.”
UNLV led by as many as nine points midway through the second half only to allow the Aggies to hang around. Julian Rishwain hit a pair of 3-pointers to help keep them at bay for a while, but they eventually grabbed a brief lead that proved to be short-lived.
New Mexico State used a late 6-0 run to take a 63-62 lead with 4:08 remaining, but UNLV got the ball inside to Jeremiah “Bear” Cherry for a dunk to recapture the lead for good.
Thomas got to the rim and was fouled in a one-point game with 2:22 remaining and made both free throws. The Aggies wouldn’t score again, as UNLV tightened up defensively down the stretch, forcing New Mexico State to miss its final six shots and eight of their last nine.
UNLV led 37-34 at halftime despite a miserable shooting performance from the field.
After a three-point play by Thomas in the opening minute, the Rebels missed their next eight shots and 13 of their next 15 as they went more than seven minutes without a basket from the floor.
They were able to stay in the game largely because of their defense and ability to get to the free-throw line. UNLV held the Aggies to 31.3 percent shooting in the first half and got into the bonus with more than 14 minutes remaining, going 20-for-23 from the line before the break.
“It just shows we’re really gutsy,” Hill said. “We didn’t shoot well, but we got to the free-throw line and got rebounds when we needed them.”
Eight New Mexico State players had two fouls in the first 20 minutes.
The Rebels did get hot toward the end of a first half that saw Thomas record 15 points and three assists while UNLV shot just 29.2 percent from the field.
None were more memorable than the ones scored by Thomas on the breakaway with 3:06 remaining in the first half.
Coach Kevin Kruger had more faith than Hill.
“I didn’t know if he was going to dunk or not, but I do know he can,” Kruger laughed. “I have seen it before.”
After the Thomas dunk brought the entire bench to its feet in celebration, he threw a lob to Cherry on a break that he finished with a highlight-reel jam and a foul. The three-point play completed a 7-0 run that put the Rebels up 37-30.
“A dunk isn’t always worth only two points,” Kruger said. “Sometimes it gets your team going, and I thought it did for us.”
Cherry finished with 10 points and eight rebounds, and Hill had 16 points and nine boards.
Contact Adam Hill at ahill@reviewjournal.com. Follow @AdamHillLVRJ on X.
New Mexico
What channel is MTSU football vs New Mexico State on today? Time, TV schedule for Week 13
MTSU football coach Derek Mason on matchup vs. New Mexico State
Middle Tennessee State football coach Derek Mason talks about the team’s upcoming game vs. New Mexico State.
Middle Tennessee State football will honor its seniors when the Blue Raiders play host to New Mexico State Saturday (1:30 p.m., ESPN+) at Floyd Stadium.
The Blue Raiders (3-7, 2-4 Conference USA) were eliminated from bowl contention with a 37-17 loss to Liberty two weeks ago. MTSU had an open date last week.
New Mexico State (2-8, 1-5) has lost three in a row and eight of nine, including a 38-3 loss to Texas A&M last week. A 33-30 CUSA win over Louisiana Tech is the only victory in that stretch.
Below is information on how to watch the game, betting odds and other information:
Watch MTSU football games live on Fubo
What channel is MTSU football vs. New Mexico State on today?
TV: ESPN+
Livestream: Fubo (free trial)
MTSU vs. New Mexico State will broadcast nationally on CBS Sports Network in Week 11 of the 2024 college football season. Jake Rose (play by play), Jeremy Kellem (color commentator) and Justin Beasley (sideline) will call the game from the booth at Floyd Stadium. Streaming options for the game include Fubo,, which offers a free trial to new subscribers.
MTSU vs. New Mexico State football time today
- Date: Saturday, Nov. 23
- Start time: 1:30 p.m., CT
The MTSU vs. New Mexico State game starts at noon at Floyd Stadium.
Purchase MTSU football tickets on StubHub
MTSU football vs. New Mexico State prediction, picks, odds
Odds courtesy of BetMGM as of Thursday, Nov. 21
MTSU 24, New Mexico State 17: In a matchup involving two of the league’s lowest-scoring offenses and bottom two defenses, something has to give. MTSU will win its third home game of the season to finish 3-3 at Floyd Stadium.
ODDS: MTSU by 3.5
O/U: 51.5
MTSU football 2024 schedule
Aug. 31: MTSU 32, Tennessee Tech 25
Sept. 7: Ole Miss 52, MTSU 3
Sept. 14: Western Kentucky 49, MTSU 21
Sept. 21: Duke 45, MTSU 17
Sept. 28: Memphis 24, MTSU 7
Oct. 10: Louisiana Tech 48, MTSU 21
Oct. 15: MTSU 14, Kennesaw State 5
Oct. 23: Jacksonville State 42, MTSU 20
Nov. 2: MTSU 20, UTEP 13
Nov. 9: Liberty 37, MTSU 17
Nov. 23: vs. New Mexico State, 1:30 p.m., ESPN+
Nov. 30: at Florida International, 1 p.m., ESPN platforms
Dec. 6: Conference USA championship game, CBS Sports Network
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Cecil Joyce covers high school sports and MTSU athletics for The Daily News Journal. Contact him at cjoyce@dnj.com and follow him on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, @Cecil_Joyce.
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