As the City of Albuquerque grows, the number of fire and EMS calls also are increasing.
That's why a new fire station is on the horizon in one of the fastest growing areas, according to KRQE.
“A lot of ‘Burquenos’ don’t necessarily understand the growth of the city, and I will tell you, it’s all here. So, if you’re wondering where the city is growling? It’s all in the southwest,” Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller said a briefing at the site.
Fire Chief Gene Gallegos said it's been 15 years since there's been a new station. And, it will be a win-win for both residents and emergency personnel as it will reduce the response time which is now eight minutes.
“We are looking for a four-minute response time in a congested area. So when it’s busy, we are going to have a four-minute response time to every area in a fire district. And that is how we select where the fire stations will be located. New fire station 23 will improve both EMS and fire suppression response times and serve over 27,000 citizens of Albuquerque,” the chief said.
Groundbreaking should be held by the end of summer.
The city has the money for the fire station, and Keller hopes the state will kick in $10 million to complete the rest of the public safety complex.
The department would like to add two more fire stations over the next decade; one in the northwest part of the city, and the other at Mesa del Sol.
