New warning system to save lives

RUIDSOSO, N.M. (KRQE) - Tucked in the tall pines of the Sacramento Mountains, Ruidoso is a great place to live, but those beautiful trees that make it so attractive, also make it, according to the National Forest Service, second in the nation when it comes to the risks for a catastrophic wildfire.

Now the village is upgrading its system for warning people.

"It's so dry, you just take some of the green branches and break them," said Harlan Vincent, Ruidoso Fire Chief.

He believes this is on of the driest fire seasons he's seen in more than 20 years, and it's barely the beginning.

Since the White Fire earlier this month that burned more than 10,000 acres and destroyed five homes near Ruidoso, Chief Vincent and village officials have been working to enhance their reverse 911 system.  It will send out calls, text messages, emails and faxes to alert thousands of residents in case of an emergency.

"I believe the one that we have is inadequate," Chief Vincent stated.  "Right now the one we have has 23 dedicated lines, and it just does not contact people fast enough. The new one is capable of putting out 30,000 calls in one minute."

The upgrade cost the village about $2,500, but the chief said considering the dangerously dry conditions in the area, its money well spent. The village is also creating a new evacuation plan, and residents said they feel much safer knowing the new operations are in the works.

"I think everyone feels like it's really a reassuring process for us," Becky Brooks who lives in Ruidoso said. "If you do live alone and there's no one at your house, you don't know what's going on here so that's nice."

The new reverse 911 system should be up and running Friday, April 22.  Lincoln County also has an emergency alert system called Code-RED.  It's been up and running for about a month and residents can click here to sign up.