By Andrew Hay

TAOS N.M. (Reuters). Thousands were warned to flee from the most destructive wildfire in American history, but they chose to protect the homes of their families and continue to live in New Mexico’s mountain ranges, officials stated.

Mora County has a population of 4,500. Around 60% of those living in the evacuation area have been able to stay in their historic farming or ranching communities, where electricity was lost.

Padilla explained that this was their livelihood and all they know.

Forested hills 40 miles northeast from Santa Fe are famed for being self-sufficient and hardy. Some residents can trace their lineage back to Native American tribes and Spanish settlers in 18th Century Spain.

Local doctor Matthew Probst said residents had high “social vulnerability,” families possibly owning a $15,000 mobile home outright but having no home owner’s insurance and few financial resources.

Keeping these “norteños” or northerners in their homes was a strong sense of “querencia,” or belonging to the land, he said.

“It is more than your house or any personal items. It includes your soul and all your stuff. Probst said that this is his land and your soul linked to it generationally. He has evacuated his family from Ojitos Frios.

Michelle Lujan Grisham of New Mexico said that concerned relatives asked for her help in getting their loved ones out.

“I have no doubt that we have people without power who are on oxygen. I have no doubt we have individuals who are running out of food and water,” Lujan Grisham told a news briefing.

Padilla was worried that strong winds could cause the fire to spread into nearby villages and Taos County. It had already destroyed at least 163 homes and blazed 165,276 hectares (67,000 ha) in Mora, San Miguel and Mora counties. He distributed food and powered generators to the homes.

He said, “I can’t neglect those who decided to stay.”