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An Arvada firefighter’s car was broken into and items stolen while fighting a wildfire in New Mexico

Posted on by Dsen .N
An Arvada firefighter’s car was broken into and items stolen while fighting a wildfire in New Mexico

DENVER (KDVR) — An Arvada firefighter’s car was broken into and items stolen as he battled deadly wildfires raging in New Mexico.

Matthew Ramos was part of a Colorado crew that traveled to help fight the South Fork Fire and Salt Fire, which burned thousands of acres near Ruidoso, New Mexico, about eight hours south of Denver.

Colorado crew helps fight wildfires in New Mexico

Helping the community, Ramos’ car was parked in front of the fire station near the burn zone. When he returned, a bag full of equipment and some money had been stolen.

“It looks like they somehow broke the door handle of my car and got inside. It’s an older vehicle, so it’s not hard to break into it,” Ramos told FOX31. “You know, maybe they were at a bad time and needed it more than I did. But it’s really sad to see this.

Escaping deadly New Mexico wildfire was ‘absolute terror,’ says woman who escaped flames

Ramos returned to Arvada and said fighting the fire was “traumatic” and that the full effects of the massive blaze were yet to be seen.

  • Homes destroyed by the South Fork fire in the mountain village of Ruidoso, New Mexico, Saturday, June 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Andres Leighton)

  • Remains of the Wild West Ski Shop, destroyed by the South Fork Fire, are shown in the mountain village of Ruidoso, New Mexico, Saturday, June 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Andres Leighton)

  • Smoke rises from the remains of a house destroyed by the South Fork Fire in the mountain village of Ruidoso, New Mexico, Saturday, June 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Andres Leighton)

  • The flattened remains of the Swiss Chalet Hotel after being destroyed by the South Fork Fire in the mountain village of Ruidoso, New Mexico, Saturday, June 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Andres Leighton)

  • A tree that split in half in the South Fork Fire is seen in the mountain village of Ruidoso, New Mexico, Saturday, June 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Andres Leighton)

Despite the attack and the traumatic experience, Ramos said he hopes to return and help fight the fire if his help is needed again.

The FBI has offered a reward for information about deadly wildfires in southern New Mexico

The Associated Press reports that last week’s fire killed two people and destroyed hundreds of homes.

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