‘The sun was just fiery red,’ Lubbock couple evacuates Ruidoso home while wildfires ravage through village

LUBBOCK, Texas -- When Jim Dailey and his wife learned they had to evacuate their beloved vacation home in Ruidoso, New Mexico, they grabbed their medicine, shoes and a few pieces of clothing. They couldn’t gather much more before they were on their way out of the village along with thousands of others who needed to escape the ravaging wildfires.

Two wildfires, the South Fork Fire and Salt Fire, continued to burn across Southern New Mexico Tuesday, taking houses and businesses along with them. Residents were ordered to evacuate Monday night when the fire spread to about 3,000 acres. By Tuesday the fires burned almost 14,000 acres and they were 0% contained.

The Dailey’s said they will never forget the way the sky looked when they left their second home.

“The sun was just fiery red,” Dailey said. "The only way out of town was 70 towards Roswell and so that's where everybody in town was going."

The couple didn’t get back to their Lubbock home until midnight Tuesday, not knowing if they’d ever be able to drive back and see their Ruidoso home again.

"It's pretty tough. It’s just that it’s been our happy place. We like to call it that," Dailey said.

The thought of losing the home brought Dailey to tears Tuesday.

Jim said they feel lucky, though, because it isn’t their only home. They know there are others who’ve lost the entirety of their belongings. He doesn’t know what to hope for right now, but he said he really just hopes people are able to get to safety.

Wildfire coverage:

By Tuesday, it was reported that about 500 structures were lost. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

A member of the New Mexico government confirmed on Tuesday at least one person has died from the South Fork and Salt fires.

A list of evacuation shelters for Ruidoso residents can be found here.