RELEASE: State Funds 190 New Firefighter and EMT Positions

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

8/8/24

State Funds 190 New Firefighter and EMT Positions Statewide

$24.9 million in awards

Santa Fe, NM—The New Mexico Department of Finance and Administration (DFA) has awarded 59 local public entities funding for an additional 190 firefighter and EMT positions across the state.

The $24.9 million in grants will help offset the cost of new firefighter and EMT salaries for three years.

“Firefighters are on the front lines protecting our communities from potentially devastating blazes everyday, ” said Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham. “As fires––and especially wildfires––grow more frequent and more intense in and around New Mexico communities, it makes good sense to provide them with the resources to protect people, pets, livestock, and property.”

Rural and remote areas of the state have long struggled with fire and emergency medical responses due to extended response times, large coverage areas, a lack of firefighters and EMTs, and other challenges. This initiative aims to assist these communities by increasing the number of first responders, ensuring that every corner of our state, no matter how remote, has the necessary support and resources when someone calls for help.

Increasing the number of paid firefighters and EMTs will improve response times, department capacity, and Insurance Services Office (ISO) ratings. Awarded entities can use the funding to create a pathway to transition volunteer firefighters to full-time paid firefighters for their communities.

Awarded Departments

Pueblo of Acoma Fire Department

Albuquerque Fire Rescue

Angel Fire Department

Artesia Fire Department

Belen Fire Department

Bernalillo County Fire Rescue

Town of Bernalillo Fire Department

Bosque Farms

Carlsbad Fire Department

Catron County Fire Department

Clayton Fire Rescue

Clovis Fire Department

Cochiti Lake Fire and EMS

Columbus Volunteer Fire/EMS Department

Corrales Fire Department

Cuba Volunteer Fire Department

Deming Fire Department

Doña Ana County Fire Rescue (DAFR) - NMSU (Fire Department Identification Number 13025)

Doña Ana County Fire Rescue (DAFR) - North (Fire Department Identification Number13001)

Doña Ana County Fire Rescue (DAFR) - Santa Teresa (Fire Department Identification Number 13091)

Doña Ana County Fire Rescue (DAFR) - South (Fire Department Identification Number 13005)

Eddy County Fire & Rescue

Estancia Fire Department

Farmington Fire Department

Gallup Fire Department

Grant County

Grants Fire and Rescue

Hobbs Fire Department

Pueblo of Isleta Fire Department

Las Cruces Fire Department

Las Vegas Fire Department

Logan

Los Lunas

Lovington dba Lovington Fire Department

Luna County Volunteer Fire Department

McKinley County Fire & Rescue

Mesilla Fire Department

Milan Fire Department

Mora County

Moriarty Fire Department

Mountainair Fire & Rescue Department

Pecos Volunteer Fire Department

Portales Fire Department

Questa Fire Department

Raton Fire & Emergency Services

El Rito Volunteer Fire Department

Rio Communities Fire Department

Rio Rancho Fire and Rescue Department

Roswell Fire Department

San Juan County Fire & Rescue

San Miguel County Fire Admin - multiple fire districts

Santa Clara Volunteer Fire Department

Santa Fe County Fire Department

Santa Fe Fire Department

Silver City Fire Department

Socorro Fire Department

Sunland Park Fire Department

Taos County Fire and Rescue

Torrance County

Tucumcari Fire/EMS Department

Valencia County Fire Department

Pueblo of Zuni Fire & EMS Department

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Henry Valdez

Executive Director of Strategic Initiatives

Office of the Secretary

c. 505.490.5245