ALBUQUERQUE – President Joseph R. Biden authorized Federal disaster aid for the State of New Mexico, making Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) available to individuals whose employment or self-employment was lost or interrupted as a direct result of the 2024 Wildfires. The President acted upon a request by New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham.

The New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions is accepting applications for DUA from individuals who are unemployed as a direct result of the disaster in Lincoln County and the Mescalero Apache Tribe.

The process to apply for DUA benefits includes two steps:

1. An individual must first apply for Standard Unemployment Insurance. This may be done online anytime 24/7 at https://www.jobs.state.nm.us, in person at any Workforce Connection Center, or by calling the Unemployment Insurance Operations center at 1-877-664-6984, Monday through Friday, 8am-4:30pm. Claimants filing their standard unemployment insurance claim online should be sure to check the box indicating that they have been affected by the fires.

2. After an individual receives notice that they are not eligible for Standard Unemployment Insurance, they may then apply for Disaster Unemployment Assistance by calling the Unemployment Insurance Operations Center or by coming in person to any New Mexico Workforce Connection Center. As a fraud prevention measure, DUA applications are only accepted in person or by phone.

In addition to the standard hours of operation, the Department of Workforce Solutions, in collaboration with the Eastern Area Local Workforce Development Board, are offering the following extended hours:

Friday, June 21, 2024:

• Roswell Convention Center, 9am-5pm
• All Workforce Connection Centers normal hours (vary by location)
• Unemployment Insurance Operations Center phone line (877-664-6984), 8am-4:30pm

Saturday, June 22, 2024:

• Roswell Convention Center, 9am-3pm
• Alamogordo Workforce Connection Center, 9am-3pm
• Unemployment Insurance Operations Center phone line (877-664-6984), 9am-3pm

Sunday, June 23, 2024:

• Roswell Convention Center, 9am-3pm
• Unemployment Insurance Operations Center phone line (877-664-6984), 9am-3pm

Individuals who lost work or employment in the designated disaster areas must file DUA applications by August 19, 2024 DUA is available to those who:

• Worked or were self-employed or were scheduled to begin work or self-employment; and
• Do not qualify for regular unemployment benefits, or Extended Benefits (EB) from any state; and
• Fall into at least one of the following categories:
• Were unable to reach their job or self-employment location because they must travel through the affected area and are prevented from doing so by the disaster; or 
• Can no longer work or perform services because of physical damage or destruction to the place of employment as a direct result of the disaster; or 
• Cannot physically access the place of employment due to its closure by the federal, state, or local government in immediate response to the disaster; or 
• Can establish that the work or self-employment they can no longer perform was their principal source of income; or 
• Cannot perform work or self-employment because of an injury as a direct result of the disaster; or 
• Became the breadwinner or major support of a household because of the death related to the disaster/fire. Claimants should file as soon as possible. Applications filed after the August 19, 2024 deadline will be considered untimely, and DUA benefits may be denied unless the individual provides good cause for filing after that date. Proof of employment/self-employment must be submitted no later than 21 days after filing for a DUA claim. The following documents are acceptable as proof of employment:
• Payroll voucher closest in date to the last work week
• Employment and earnings statement from employer with name, address and contact information
• Written statement from employer
• Business records (bank statements, business receipts, licenses, advertisements, invoices, appointment books, financial statements)
• Notarized statement from person with name, address, and contact information who can verify your self-employment and unemployment

If an individual is self-employed, their 2023 federal income tax return and schedules can serve as proof of prior wages but does not substantiate their proof of employment at the time of the disaster. DUA is available for weeks of unemployment beginning June 23, 2024 until December 21, 2024, as long as the individual’s unemployment continues to be a direct result of the disaster. DUA applications are only accepted in person or by phone. If an individual applies for benefits by phone or in person, they will automatically receive their benefits via debit card unless they had a previous claim where they received direct deposit. A claimant can change their payment method to direct deposit at any time by logging onto their claimant homepage on the Unemployment Insurance Tax & Claims system at https://www.jobs.state.nm.us. Claimants who do not elect to receive payments through direct deposit should provide a safe address that will be accessible even during evacuation periods, and at which a trusted person will be receiving the mail.

Locations to file a DUA Claim

Individuals who are applying in person for DUA may go to any New Mexico Workforce Connection Center (https://www.dws.state.nm.us/Office-Locations) or to any location listed below to speak with an NMDWS representative Monday through Friday 8am-5pm.

Print this entry

Print this entry

Daily Update, Friday, June 21, 2024 

Public Information Line: 575-323-8258 

Media Information Line: 575-323-8053 

Phone Line Hours: 8 am – 8 pm 

Email: 2024.southfork@firenet.gov 

Acres: South Fork – 16,349; Salt – 7,652                    

Start Date: June 17, 2024 

Location: South Fork – Ruidoso Area; Salt – 7 mile west of Mescalero, NM

Personnel: 1,006 

Containment: 0% 

Fuels: mixed conifer, grass, pine/juniper  

Resources:  22 Crews, 87 Engines, 15 dozers, and 16 water tenders.  There are also helicopters and air tankers available for bucket and retardant drops if the need arises. 

Highlights: Utility services – including electricity, water, internet and phones – remain shutdown across the South Fork and Salt fires. Power and service outages will continue to impact communications, making it difficult to contact residents and visitors in the area. 

Fire Activity: The South Fork and Salt fires experienced minimal fire behavior on Thursday due to the variable precipitation on Wednesday and persistent high humidity into Thursday. Precipitation ranged from substantial rain and hail (up to 1.62”) to scarce sprinkles and scattered showers throughout day and overnight firefighting operations. 

The cooler weather and moderate fire conditions observed on Thursday are expected to continue into Friday. Firefighters will continue constructing firelines and utilizing hand crews and bulldozers to protect homes, properties and critical infrastructure. 

Crews on the South Fork fire continue engaging the fire with hand tools directly at its edge, utilizing hose along handlines and dozer lines to extinguish smoldering fuels and building fireline with machinery. Firefighters will also continue to conduct mop up operations, extinguishing and/or removing burning material along the fire’s edge to reduce the likelihood of fire creeping past control lines, where feasible. 

Firefighters on the Salt fire will construct control lines, prepare new line where needed and conduct point protection to protect private property and critical infrastructure in the area. Ground and air ignitions will be used where needed to burn out fuels between constructed firelines and active fire. 

Damage and structure assessments have commenced, along with adding additional protection needs as they are discovered. 

Weather: Cooler temperatures, much higher relative humidity and light winds are expected on Friday. Thunderstorms are expected to develop bringing the potential for areas of heavy rain, flash flooding, and debris flows this afternoon. 

Smoke: Smoke will continue to be observed across both the South Fork and Salt fires today. Individuals sensitive to smoke should take precautions and use the New Mexico Department of Health 5-3-1 Visibility Method to determine if it’s safe to be outside. For more information visit Air Quality: https://nmtracking.doh.nm.gov/environment/air/FireAndSmoke.html 

Evacuations: Mandatory evacuation orders remain in effect for several areas in and near both the South Fork and Salt fires. Evacuation information can be found at www.nmfireinfo.com. Road and trail closures are in effect throughout the fire area. Both Highway 48 and Highway 70 at Apache Summit are closed; the open evacuation route is Highway 70 to Roswell. State Hwy 48 is closed from Alpine Village/University to State Hwy 220. US 70 is closed from mm 249 (intersection NM 244), 4 miles east of Mescalero, to mm 258, 2 miles east of Carrizo. 

Closures: A South Fork Fire Emergency Closure Order was issued on 6/20/2024 for national forest lands within the Smokey Bear Ranger District. The identified areas, and roads and trails therein, are closed to public access to provide enhanced safety of firefighting personnel and the public. 

A Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) is also in place over the fire area. Visit https://www.tfr.faa.gov for more information. Drone flights are also prohibited within this area. If you fly, we may have to ground our air resources. 

More information:  

Inciweb: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/nmmea-south-fork-and-salt 

Print this entry

HWY 70 by Bent is CLOSED due to a fatality. NM State Police is on scene. NO ETA when the HWY will re-open.

Print this entry

The Mescalero Apache Tribe wants to make it clear that the items, efforts and activities at the evacuation sites are solely to accommodate the evacuees, residents affected by the fire, and firefighters/emergency personnel.

Print this entry

There are additional law enforcement from other agency’s or tribes that have been commissioned to enforce and carry out tribal laws on the Mescalero Apache Reservation. If you are being given lawful orders please obey the commands.

Print this entry

The Summer Foods Program will resume June 21, 2024

Print this entry

There is a Certified Nurse Practioner on-site at the Mescalero Community Center offering Wound Care & Basic Medical Assesment/Exams for any fire firghters/emergency support staff, community members & evacuees in need.

It will be helpful to bring a medication list and any basic health notes for your visit.

MAT appreciates this emergency service support!

Print this entry

Print this entry

The Mescalero Apache Tribe’s official evacuation sites are located at the  Mescalero Community Center Gym and the Inn of the Mountain Gods Convention Center.

Both sites are active with evacuees due to being displaced as a result of the South Fork Fire and Salt Fire.

We have opened our doors to tribal and non-tribal individuals who had to leave their home and seek shelter and most importantly, a safe place to stay.

We are extremely grateful for the willingness of our tribal members, neighboring towns and villages, community groups/organizations, and complete strangers for the donations being dropped off at these sites.

Donated items for men, women, children and infants can be found at the evacuation sites as well as hot or on-the-go meals all due to donations and volunteers.

Due to the evacuation sites, Tribal departments and businesses are closed. Only essential employees who provide emergency duties or volunteer work are still working within their respected departments/programs.

The Mescalero Apache Tribe wants to make it clear that the items, efforts and activities at the evacuation sites are solely to accommodate the evacuees and firefighters/emergency personnel.

Other than providing emergency response, volunteering or seeking shelter, individuals need to stay clear of both evacuation sites. If you have not been displaced by the fires, we ask that we refrain from loitering at the evacuation sites.

In order for the Mescalero Apache Tribe and emergency response teams to successfully carry out public safety works, these sites must be available to evacuees only.

Thank you for your continued cooperation and generous donations! We are still accepting donations.

For more information please call the Tribal EOC (Emergency Operation Center) at 575-464-9214 or the donation line at 575-464-9920.

Print this entry