New Mexico wildfires still imperil residents

Smoke hovers over the trees in Ruidoso on Saturday

RUIDOSO, New Mexico (CNN) -- Firefighters continued to battle a wildfire Sunday on the Mescalero Apache Indian Reservation near here that forced the evacuation of about 1,200 people on Saturday evening.

People were allowed to return to their homes Saturday night when winds died down and the fire subsided, but they were being advised they might have to flee again if the fire worsens Sunday, said Tomas Chavez, emergency management director for the village of Ruidoso.

"If need be, they will be evacuated again," he said. The cause of the fire, which has consumed about 390 acres, "is being investigated."

About 1,100 people, including firefighters from several Western states and National Guard troops, were working at the scene, Chavez said. After daylight broke Sunday, fire crews flew over the area to plan where they were going to make drops of fire retardant, he said.

A power line in the fire area has been deactivated to prevent it from arcing in the smoke and wind, which Chavez said could jeopardize the entire power system in the area. The power outage is expected to last until at least mid-afternoon, he said.

Ruidoso, which has about 4,600 residents, is about 200 miles southeast of Albuquerque.