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N.M. Baptists offer quick help as wind-driven fires claim homes


RUIDOSO, N.M. (BP)–Members of a Baptist church near a fire-ravaged area in south-central New Mexico offered assistance to victims of the blaze within hours of the destruction of over two-dozen homes during the March 23-24 weekend.

Tim Gilliland, pastor of First Baptist Church, Ruidoso, told the Baptist New Mexican by telephone March 25, “There were some pretty tense moments there Saturday night and Sunday morning. It was quite an ordeal for about 24 hours.”

Lincoln County officials announced March 25 that the fire had burned 28 homes and a barn, forced the evacuation of 1,300 residents and burned more than 800 acres. A second fire had been reported to have burned more than 16,000 acres and destroyed one home, forcing the evacuation of another 100 homes in the Hondo area. Both fires started on Saturday and were quickly spread by high winds that raced through the state.

On Sunday, a First Baptist family offered the use of a vacant home they owned to a family who regularly attended the church and had learned their home was lost. Gilliland said the family that had lost the home was the only one he knew about at the time who was related to the church, though there could be more.

The church also has offered use of its missionary residence to an affected family, Gilliland said, though he did not know at the time if either offer would be accepted.

Since evacuees had only begun to return to their homes that morning, it was still unclear how many homes in the area were uninhabitable due to smoke damage though they had not been burned, Gilliland said.

Though numerous homes were lost, the church, as well as the entire community, was very thankful that there was no loss of life, Gilliland said.

The pastor urged Baptists across the state to pray for victims and for much needed rain for the entire drought-stricken state. The Red Cross, which is coordinating the relief effort, is accepting donations for victims.
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  • John Loudat