New Mexico National Guard Rescues Three Firefighters, Evacuates Nine Residents During Socorro County Flooding

SANTA FE, N.M. (Oct. 26, 2026) — New Mexico National Guard Soldiers and Airmen rescued three stranded firefighters and helped evacuate nine residents during a dangerous, multiagency flood response in Socorro County over the weekend.

The mission began Saturday evening, Oct. 24, when rising floodwaters along the Rio Puerco threatened communities near La Joya and San Francisco, New Mexico.

At approximately 6:30 p.m., Socorro County emergency officials requested assistance after three firefighters attempting to locate a missing woman became stranded in rapidly rising floodwaters along Ramon Lopez Road near U.S. Highway 60.

The firefighters’ vehicle became disabled as floodwaters overtook the roadway, forcing all three to climb onto its roof to await rescue.

New Mexico National Guard personnel responded using a Light Medium Tactical Vehicle (LMTV), navigating dangerous currents and severely limited nighttime visibility to reach the stranded firefighters.

Working alongside emergency medical personnel, Guardsmen successfully brought all three firefighters to safety.

With visibility severely restricted, crew members guided the LMTV driver as the vehicle backed out of the flooded area.

“When floodwaters threaten New Mexico communities, our priority is protecting lives and backing the local responders on the front lines,” said Maj. Gen. Miguel Aguilar, the Adjutant General of New Mexico and acting Cabinet secretary of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. “Our Soldiers and Airmen are working shoulder-to-shoulder with county personnel and swiftwater rescue teams to guide our neighbors through this dangerous situation. I urge everyone in affected areas to take evacuation warnings seriously, avoid flooded roads, and follow local directions. No property is worth risking your life.”

Later that evening, emergency officials requested assistance evacuating residents stranded in the community of San Francisco.

With floodwaters continuing to rise, National Guard personnel worked alongside New Mexico State Police and swiftwater rescue teams to identify alternate access routes.

Guardsmen traveled several miles on foot through difficult terrain to reach isolated residents, assess their needs and establish a plan for evacuation.

The team identified nine residents and seven animals in the affected area.

As floodwaters washed away portions of access roads and damaged railroad infrastructure, Guard personnel assisted swiftwater rescue teams in transporting equipment, including carrying an inflatable raft approximately four miles when rising water made further vehicle movement unsafe.

After an extended overnight operation, swiftwater rescue personnel secured the residents in a safe location while Guard teams continued coordinating evacuation routes.

On the morning of Oct. 26, Guard personnel returned with LMTVs, carefully navigating submerged roads with swiftwater rescue personnel scouting the terrain ahead.

During the operation, one Guard vehicle became stuck after floodwaters damaged the roadway and pushed the vehicle off course. A second Guard team assisted in recovering the vehicle, allowing the mission to continue.

By approximately 1 p.m., all nine residents had been transported to safety.

During the evacuation, New Mexico National Guard personnel spotted the body of the woman who had been reported missing during the initial flooding.

New Mexico State Police directed Guardsmen to continue transporting the nine residents to safety while authorities confirmed the discovery.

A second Guard team subsequently escorted swiftwater rescue personnel to the location, where the woman’s body was recovered.

The operation involved the New Mexico National Guard, New Mexico State Police, Socorro County Sheriff’s Office, New Mexico Department of Transportation, New Mexico Department of Game and Fish, Valencia County and Rio Rancho swiftwater rescue teams, Oklahoma Task Force One, New Mexico Search and Rescue, Northern Socorro County Fire Department and Socorro County Office of Emergency Management.

The New Mexico National Guard’s portion of the operation concluded at approximately 3:15 p.m. Oct. 26.

Residents are reminded to monitor local weather alerts, obey evacuation instructions and never attempt to cross flooded roadways.

Turn Around, Don’t Drown.