'It's wild seeing the aftermath': Two Lincoln County residents remain optimistic despite properties destroyed by fiire

Jun. 25—RUIDOSO — Christopher Reed walked around what once was a two-story, one-bedroom and one-bathroom house off Musket Ball Drive in Lincoln County on Tuesday afternoon.

Now, a foundation with pieces of fallen sheetrock and debris all over is all there is after it was consumed by the South Fork Fire, one of two wildfires that ignited last week and devastated so much of the area.

"It's wild seeing the aftermath," he said as he looked at where he once had a hot tub and deck. "It all looks so different."

Reed said he was home at about 4 p.m. June 17 when he was told to evacuate. He went to a camping site near Hondo, where he stayed with friends when he had to evacuate again due to flooding.

While he was traveling, Reed said he believed it was likely that his home would be burned by the fire, which had been coming toward the property before he left.

"I had expectations of coming back to the devastation," Reed said. But that still did not prepare him for what he saw when he came back. It is one thing to expect the home to be destroyed, but it is different to come back and see everything gone, he said.

Not only was his home destroyed, but so was the shed that contained four motorcycles. On Tuesday, Reed's brother and a friend came to help him remove metal pieces of what was a roof and clear out a driveway.

There are times Reed said he cries, and other times he wonders about what happened.

"It's a roller coaster of emotions," he said. "There are friends that make you laugh, then you start to think of the things you used to have."

Yet, Reed said, he wants to help others who are in similar situations as his.

"I'd like to rebuild. I'd like to help anyone who needs to rebuild," he said while looking at Sierra Blanca. "Rebuild and stay positive and I think that's all you can really do."

Less than a mile away from Reed on Toboggan Trail was Jason Perry and his girlfriend, who wished not to be named for this story. At first, they stopped to see their friend's destroyed house before seeing their property.

The two got out of their Jeep, took photos with their phones and held each other as they looked at their burned property, which they hoped to turn into their dream home.

While Perry said he is sad about what happened, there are other people who have been hit harder.

"Our neighbors lost their retirement dreams," he said.

Perry said people wanting to help the community should stop donating to charities. Instead, they should book rooms at local Airbnbs and eat and shop at the local businesses that are reopening.

"This is the best way for people to support us," he said.

Perry said while there have been tragedies as a result of the fires, "this village will rebuild." Trees grow back and communities that are strong "bounce back," he said.

"Watch our recovery. This is a community that's coming back."