Update as of June 28, 2024:

In New Mexico, some residents are being allowed to return to their neighborhoods as fire crews gain control of two devastating wildfires that forced as many as 8,000 people to evacuate last week. The South Fork and Salt fires have scorched more than 25,000 acres. The Salt Fire is 66% contained; the South Fork Fire is 69% contained. Additional rain is predicted which could cause flash flooding and mudslides in the area. Early reports indicate as many as 1,400 structures are destroyed ─ this may include 500 homes, according to state officials.

RED CROSS RESPONSE The American Red Cross is working with emergency officials and local partners to provide comfort and support to people impacted by these deadly fires. The fires have caused tremendous losses, and the Red Cross will be with those affected in the weeks and months to come, helping them recover.

More than 200 trained Red Cross disaster workers from all over the U.S. are in New Mexico helping provide safe shelter, food, emotional and spiritual support, relief supplies and health services such as replacing eyeglasses and medications.

Since shelters were opened for this disaster, the Red Cross and our partners have provided more than 1,850 overnight stays for more than 565 residents, along with more than 18,200 meals and snacks. Overnight on June 26, Red Cross and our partners had 5 open shelters open to support some 20 people. The Red Cross has also distributed over 5,000 relief items and successfully completed some 160 welfare information requests. More information on what the Red Cross is doing in New Mexico here.

FIND A SHELTER We encourage anyone who needs a place to stay or a warm meal to come to a Red Cross shelter. Our shelters are safe for everyone, regardless of citizenship status. We won’t ask for any kind of identification, and we don’t share resident information with the government.

Find shelter information on redcross.org, the free Red Cross Emergency app or by calling 1-800-RED CROSS (800-733-2767). You can also find shelters by following your local Red Cross and local emergency officials on social media, or by monitoring local news.

If possible, we encourage people who plan to stay in a shelter to bring prescription medications, extra clothing, pillows, blankets, hygiene supplies, other comfort items and important documents. Don’t forget to bring any special items for children, such as diapers, formula and toys, or for family members who have unique needs.

We do everything we can to accommodate service animals and domesticated pets comfortably in our shelters. Sometimes, depending on the situation, pets may need to be housed in a different location with support from local partners.

YOU CAN HELP people affected by disasters like storms, fires and countless other crises by making a gift to Red Cross Disaster Relief. Your gift enables the Red Cross to prepare for, respond to and help people recover from disasters big and small. Visit redcross.org, call 800-RED-CROSS (800-733-2767), or text the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation.