Report: 1K-Plus Properties Damaged, Destroyed in New Mexico Wildfires Could Cost $370M

More than 1,000 residential properties in New Mexico may have been damaged or destroyed by wildfires in New Mexico, according to property data firm CoreLogic.

“Multiple, active wildfires in south-central New Mexico potentially impacted approximately 1,300 residential properties with a combined reconstruction cost value (RCV) of nearly $370 million,” a report out on Wednesday from CoreLogic sates.

The Blue 2, Salt, and South Fork Fires started in late May and burned thousands of acres in New Mexico.

The Blue 2 Fire is out, but the Salt and South Fork fires continue to burn. The South Fork Fire has burned 17,569 acres, and it is 64% contained. The Salt Fire has burned 7,939 acres, and it is 55% contained.

Temperatures rose on Tuesday and fuels dried slightly, with several smokes observed by crews on the fires. The activity was the result of unburned and smoldering fuels igniting inside the fire area, but the potential for the fuels to spread outside the current perimeter is minimal, according to an update from the New Mexico Fire Information service.

“A lot of activity is still occurring across the fire area as crews work through structural assessments of buildings impacted by the fire, mop up and begin suppression repair,” the update states.

The CoreLogic update states that severe weather over the weekend that included flash flooding prevented firefighters from increasing containment.

Most of the properties at risk in the report are in Ruidoso, a resort town with roughly 7,800 residents.

The Associated Press reported the fires destroyed roughly 1,500 structures, killing at least two people, and forcing thousands to evacuate.

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