As I was leaving Ruidoso heading NW I passed through the remains of the Little Bear Fire. One of the most destructive wildfires ever in New Mexico, it burned 44,000 acres and destroyed 254 structures, the most of any one fire in NM history.
Originally sparked by lighting, the fire took a turn for the worse on June ninth when high winds caused it to spread.
Although there are reports that tourism has slowed, the town seemed pretty busy going into July 4th week. And apparently Texans, a primary source of tourists, are showing their resolve and continuing to vacation in the area.
I passed a number of burned dwellings, but was unable to stop for photos. Here are the scenes I was able to caputre.
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