Grant Will Help 59 New Mexico Fire Agencies Hire Firefighters

Aug. 10—The New Mexico Department of Finance and Administration has allocated funding for the recruitment of 190 firefighter and emergency medical technician positions at 59 local governments and departments across the state.

The $24.9 million in grant funding was appropriated by the Legislature earlier this year to offset new firefighter and EMT salaries for three years, the agency said a news release issued last week. The funding stream is similar to an appropriation for police officer recruitment and retention grants that was allocated this year, Department of Finance and Administration spokesman Henry Valdez said.

The grants will fund three full-time positions in the city of Santa Fe and six full-time positions in Santa Fe County, Valdez said, adding the program also allows for voluntary firefighters and EMTs to transition to paid employees.

"We put an emphasis on awarding to rural communities," Valdez said in an interview. "Of those six positions [in Santa Fe County], it gives the county the ability to staff stations with full-time staff that may be historically staffed by volunteers."

The news release states the funding aims to improve response times, department capacity and Insurance Services Office ratings, which affect insurance rates in different locations.

"As fires — and especially wildfires — grow more frequent and more intense in and around New Mexico communities," Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham said in a statement, "it makes good sense to provide them with the resources to protect people, pets, livestock, and property."

___

(c)2024 The Santa Fe New Mexican (Santa Fe, N.M.)

Visit The Santa Fe New Mexican (Santa Fe, N.M.) at www.santafenewmexican.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.