Correctly predicted surprise state inspection of our rural community fire department
based on a news article from hours away. Orchestrated Fire department overhaul and
emergency preparations - passed surprise inspection; saved volunteer department from
state shutdown.

2/28/2019

Downgrading of county fire districts creates hardships
for homeowners
Blake Gumprecht, Las Cruces Sun‑News

3:45

26, 2018

LEASBURG ­ Alfonso Rodriguez lives in a three­bedroom adobe house here that his grandfather built, across
the street from an onion farm and in an area of extensive pecan orchards.
A truck driver who hauls mail on contract for the U.S. Postal Service, he’s owned the house since 1976 and
lives there with his wife of 42 years, Patricia. They raised three daughters there. They’ve had a good life. He is
Buy Photo

66 years old and was looking forward to retirement.

(Photo: Josh Bachman/Sun­News)

But now, suddenly, he fears he could lose his home because his property insurance premium nearly doubled,
and his monthly mortgage increased by $261 a month.

“How are we going to pay it?” he asked. “I’ve been here all my life. If it keeps going up, I’m going to wind up without a house. The insurance is killing us.”
Thousands of property owners throughout Doña Ana County face a similar prospect because six county fire districts have been given failing grades by an
organization that evaluates fire departments, and insurance companies are raising their property insurance rates in response.
The downgrading of the fire districts in Anthony, La Mesa, La Union, Las Alturas, Mesquite and Radium Springs also poses a threat to local real estate
markets because some insurance companies are refusing to write new policies in areas covered by those districts.
If you live in one of the six areas, you may have an even greater concern: Whether you are adequately protected if your house catches fire or you need
an ambulance. In the views of the ratings agency and insurance companies, you are not.
“You have these nice facilities and nice equipment, but you have a false sense of security,” said Adolf Zubia, a former Las Cruces fire chief and county
fire marshal.
Unincorporated areas of the county, along with municipalities such as Anthony that don’t have their own fire department, are covered by the Doña Ana
County Fire & Emergency Services Department. The county is divided into 16 fire districts, staffed primarily by volunteers.
More: Fire near Landmark Mercantile feed store causes $250K in damage (/story/news/local/2018/08/21/fire­landmark­mercantile­feed­store­mesquite­
causes­250­k­damage/1053692002/)

ISO ratings
Those fire districts, like fire departments all over New Mexico including Las Cruces, are evaluated periodically by the Insurance Services Office (ISO), an
independent organization that sells its services to the insurance industry. Fire protection areas in the state are evaluated every four years or so.
The county fire districts were evaluated most recently between 2015 and 2017. ISO representatives study a variety of factors that influence the quality of
fire protection, including fire department staffing and equipment; data on responses to fires and other emergence calls; the water supply
system; emergency communications; and fire prevention efforts.
…

1/6

2/28/2019
ISO grades all fire protection areas on a scale of 1 to 10 — 1 being the best. A grade of 10 indicates an agency “does not meet ISO’s minimum criteria,”

according to the company’s website. The county fire districts (https://www.gannett­cdn.com/presto/2018/08/25/PNM2/3c7ac428­fb66­4a71­8d68­
8d46cad1c906­County_fire_table.JPG?width=500&height=381) in Anthony, La Mesa, La Union, Las Alturas, Mesquite and Radium Springs all received
the lowest possible grade. Rodriguez’ house is in the Radium Springs fire district.
Nationally, fewer than 3 percent of fire protection areas got the lowest grade, but in Doña Ana County 37.5 percent did. In New Mexico, 17 fire districts
have the lowest grade. Nearly a third are in Doña Ana County.
The Las Cruces Fire Department, in contrast, earned the highest grade, but it’s not fair to compare it to the county fire districts because all its firefighters
are paid, its water supply is more consistent, and it doesn’t have to provide coverage over such a large area with a scattered population.
Most county fire districts received grades of 5 to 7 in their most recent evaluations, which county Fire Chief Nicholas Hempel said is, “middle of the road,
average … they’re doing a pretty decent job.” New Mexico State University, which is part of the county system but funded by the university, received a 2,
considered exceptional. Santa Teresa earned a 4.

Many insurance companies, though not all, use ISO grades to determine premiums for home and business property insurance. Generally, insurance
premiums will be lower for the same type of property in areas with higher ISO ratings.
Jimmy Nevarez, owner of the Nevarez Insurance Agency in Las Cruces, said a home that would cost $300 to $400 a year to insure in the city might cost
three times that much in a rural part of the county because of the ISO grades.
Having so many fire districts in one county with failing ISO grades is “highly unusual,” said State Fire Marshal Don Shainin. “We’ve had a meeting with
them. We’ve given them some options. We’re waiting for their response. We’re hoping that they will come up with a plan down there. It is a concern.”
What is even more alarming is that county officials and the six fire districts that received failing grades were notified of those grades last year and were
given one year to rectify the situations that led to those ratings before insurance companies were notified.
Neither the county nor the fire districts did anything to fix the problems. So, in March of this year the grades were “published,” meaning that they became
official and insurance companies began adjusting their rates accordingly.
More: Family remembers woman who died in mobile home fire (/story/news/local/2018/07/17/family­remembers­woman­who­died­mobile­home­
fire/794444002/)
“As an organization, we failed,” said Ben Rawson, chairman of the Doña Ana County Board of County Commissioners. “What frustrates me is that we
were on probation for a year and nobody did anything about it. Our fire chief didn’t do anything. Our county manager didn’t do anything. We completely
dropped the ball.”
…

2/6

2/28/2019
County officials point out that neither the current county manager, Fernando Macias, nor the fire chief, Hempel, were in those positions when the county

was notified. Macias started in January 2018, Hempel in July 2017.
Rawson said Julia Brown was county manager when the county was notified. She was terminated in April 2017. He wasn’t certain who the fire chief was
at the time. He said that “county staff has been unable to provide me” the letter notifying the county about the downgrading. Eric Crespin, current deputy
chief, was interim chief until Hempel took over. Robert Monsivaiz was chief from 2009 to 2015.

Not enough volunteers
Fire officials say the six districts were given failing grades because they did not meet minimum ISO requirements on a single standard. That standard
requires that at least four firefighters from the district, on average, respond to a structure fire. The actual way that number is calculated is complicated.
Not every firefighter who responds counts the same.
“If we aren’t showing that we’re getting four members there to those calls from that district, that is an auto fail,” Hempel said. “Everything else could be
the same or even better than it was prior to that rating, but if we can’t get those four, that’s an automatic failure.”
The Doña Ana County fire department has 252 volunteers. They are supplemented by 13 paid firefighters. But the number of volunteers varies
significantly by district: From just eight in Radium Springs to 30 in Santa Teresa. Generally, those districts that received failing grades have the fewest
volunteers.
Volunteerism is down (https://www.bls.gov/news.release/volun.nr0.htm) in all aspects of life, across the country, but in no activity is the impact of that
decline more critical than in firefighting. People are busier than ever. They often work in different communities than they live. Their kids participate in
multiple activities. They’re always on the go. They’re rarely at home.
Who has time to volunteer?
“It’s harder and harder to recruit consistently,” Macias said. “The volunteers (who do sign up) are trained. They make a commitment. They’re on the roster
of each of these districts. They don’t show up. They don’t respond.”

Buy Photo

When the Radium Springs fire district was last evaluated, it had zero volunteers. It now has eight plus three paid firefighters. (Photo: Josh Bachman/Sun­News)

Nowhere is the problem greater than in Radium Springs, the district where Rodriguez lives. When the Radium Springs fire district was last evaluated by
the ISO, it had zero volunteers. It now has eight plus three paid firefighters.
The state Fire Marshal’s Office requires districts to have at least 12 firefighters. Because Radium Springs doesn’t, it is on probation with the state, which
means the fire marshal must approve all its expenditures.

…

3/6

2/28/2019
The shortage of volunteers makes it harder for districts like Radium Springs to meet the ISO’s response requirements. It also hurts them financially

because most funding for volunteer fire departments comes from the state and those budgets are determined by the ISO grades. The lower the grade,
the less funding a district receives.
The fire chief in Radium Springs is Louis Bencomo, who retired from the Las Cruces Fire Department in 2009 after 21 years. A Las Cruces native, he
moved to village of Doña Ana in 1995 and began volunteering with the Radium Springs fire district. He moved to Radium Springs in 2000.
Bencomo was chief in Radium Springs from 2011 to 2012 — chiefs are also volunteers, elected by the firefighters in a district. The district at the time had
five volunteers, “then the number dwindled and dwindled,” he said.
Radium Springs also experienced management problems, which exacerbated its difficulties. The chief who followed Bencomo was removed, he said,
because of “fiscal improprieties.” Monsivaiz, the county fire chief, stepped in as district chief, but “it was in name only,” Bencomo said.
More: Pet parrot perishes in East Mesa mobile home fire (/story/news/local/2018/06/27/pet­parrot­perishes­east­mesa­moongate­fire/740165002/)
Bencomo shifted to the Rincon fire district for two years but continued to help his hometown district. He began to actively seek volunteers because
“nobody else was doing it,” he said.
On Election Day in November 2016, he set up at table at the polling station in the Radium Springs Community Center to recruit volunteers. Eight people
expressed interest. He took their names and contact information and texted them before the district’s weekly meeting for two months. But only two
showed up and joined the department.
He continues to actively recruit. He’ll set up a table in front of the Family Dollar, the only store in town. He’ll recruit at the community center when free
food for low­income residents is distributed. But even though the Radium Springs area has a population of about 1,500 people, according to the Census
bureau, he has little success.
Only three of Radium Springs’ current volunteers live in the district. Four come from Las Cruces. One travels all the way from La Mesa. The out­of­town
volunteers typically serve a 20­hour shift at the station once a week.
“We need to do something to get more people,” Bencomo said. “But exactly what the answer is, I don’t know. It’s a nationwide problem. We have a whole
shift in how people see things and how people value things — the sense of community. Communities forget that the fire department is the community. If
the community isn’t responding we don’t have a fire department.”

Shockwaves
Chip Carlson, an insurance agent for Pat Campbell Insurance in Las Cruces, first learned that the six county fire districts were being downgraded in
February when he contacted one of the companies he represents to obtain a quote for a customer and “the premium was through the roof.”
Insurance companies adjust their premiums when a policy is renewed, typically once a year, so many property owners in the failing districts have not yet
learned whether their premiums will increase.
Shockwaves are rippling through the county one policyholder at a time as they receive their new policies in the mail or are contacted by their agents.
Carlson insures about 4,000 homeowners throughout Doña Ana County. He said he has one client in Talavera whose annual premium skyrocketed from
$1,400 to $3,900, an increase of 179 percent. Another customer in La Mesa, whose house is in the Mesquite fire district, saw their premium double, from
$675 to $1,353.
“I couldn’t believe this was happening,” Carlson said. “I don’t know why I can sleep at night. I care very much about my customers.”
Rodriguez was notified in May by his mortgage company, Quicken Loans, that his insurance company, Farmers Insurance, was increasing his premium
from $849 to $1,600 per year, a jump of 88 percent. He and his daughter immediately began shopping around for a better rate and found one from State
Farm, which doesn’t use ISO grades in establishing premiums.
He cancelled his policy with Farmers in July, only to discover shortly after State Farm inspected his house that they wouldn’t insure him unless he
replaced the roof. He couldn’t afford to hire a roofer, which he said would have cost him $7,000 to $8,000, so he and the boyfriend of his youngest
daughter are replacing the roof themselves. In the meantime, his home is uninsured.
“I have to do something,” he said.

…

4/6

2/28/2019
What has happened to Rodriguez is happening to property owners all over the county. It’s happening to a commercial landlord in Anthony. It’s happening

to comparatively wealthy homeowner in Las Alturas. It’s happening to a retired couple in La Mesa.
Frederick Gerber owns a commercial office space in Anthony. His annual insurance premium on the space is increasing 38 percent, but he says he can’t
pass all of that onto his tenant because there is a surplus of available office space in the city, so it is a buyer’s market.
“It’s a big expense,” he said. “I don’t like it.”
More: Las Cruces safest driving city in New Mexico? Insurance website says yes (/story/news/local/2018/08/23/las­cruces­safest­driving­city­new­
mexico­insurance­website­says­yes­insurify/1074831002/)
Bernie Ryan, a retired lawyer, owns a 2,600 ­square­foot home in Las Alturas. His insurance premium is increasing from $950 to $1,500 a year. But he
feels lucky compared to one of his neighbors, whose premium nearly tripled from $1,800 to $5,000.
Virginia and Howard Ness, both retired from the National Park Service, own a 114­year­old house in La Mesa that is on the National Register of Historic
Places. They received an e­mail from Carlson recently telling them that their premium would likely double. Already their son’s premium has doubled.
“There's other things I'd like to do with my money, like visit my grandchildren,” Virginia Ness said. “Maybe it’s my fault — you vote for people and you
think you’re being taken care of. The county is letting us down.”
A secondary impact of the rising insurance premiums is that many insurance companies won’t write new policies in the failing districts. That makes it
difficult for people who want to buy homes in those areas to get insurance, which has already caused real estate deals to fall through.
Carlson said he has a policy holder in Las Cruces who wanted to buy a $300,000 home in Las Alturas. The sale was scheduled to close in March, but
then he discovered that the premium on the house would be increasing from $1,400 to $3,000 a year.
Soon after, Travelers Insurance informed Carlson that it would’t insure the house. His client decided not to purchase the house after all.
Nevarez, who represents Farmers Insurance, said he has lost seven or eight customers because the company wouldn’t insure them since their homes
were located in county fire districts that received a grade of 10. They even turned down a homeowner whose house is within 100 yards of the Las Alturas
fire station.

Buy Photo

Signs in Radium Springs ask residents to consider becoming volunteer firefighters, inside the windows of the Radium Springs Fire Station, Friday August 24, 2018. The
lack of volunteers has led the fire district to be downgraded. (Photo: Josh Bachman/Sun­News)

County strategies
The Doña Ana County fire department has stepped up efforts to attract volunteers since Hempel became chief. Flyers are being distributed in utility bills
sent to county residents. Signs have been erected on the sides of fire trucks.
…

5/6

2/28/2019
Those efforts are helping. Since Jan. 1, the county has recruited 81 new volunteers, though they must be trained and pass a background check before

they officially become firefighters.
County officials are also considering other strategies to increase the number of firefighters and participation by volunteers. Macias is investigating the
possibility of shifting vacant staff positions from other county departments to the fire department so more paid firefighters can be hired.
They are also considering providing financial incentives to firefighters that would pay them for each call to which they respond. They hope that would not
only help recruit more volunteers but make them more likely to answer calls.
The county fire department has made other changes to improve response time to emergencies. Now the closest four districts are dispatched immediately
to all structure fires. In the past, only the closest district was called initially. If it didn’t respond, the second closed district was called. That system
sometimes resulted in slow response times.
Doña Ana County is also considering making a fundamental change in the way the department is organized in response to the ISO scores. It is
considering consolidating the county’s 16 fire districts into a smaller number of larger units. The number of fire stations would remain the same.
More: Las Cruces Fire attends to 12,000 medical assistance calls a year; here's how it works (/story/news/local/2018/08/25/las­cruces­fire­attends­12­
000­medical­assistance­calls­year­heres­how­works/1098113002/)
An earlier chief proposed consolidating the department into a single unit, eliminating the individual districts, but Macias rejected that strategy as
unworkable. The county is too large for that, he says. Firefighters in Radium Springs can’t be expected to fight fires 50 miles away in Chaparral.
But consolidating the county’s 16 fire districts into, say, three or four would mean each district would have a greater pool of volunteers to draw on. That
would help assure that at least four firefighters respond to each structure fire but would also make the districts better equipped to respond to fires and
other emergencies.
Macias and Hempel intend to present some sort of proposal to the Board of County Commissioners within the next 45 days. They are hopeful that if the
county can make fundamental changes that they can convince the ISO representative to return and re­evaluate the failing departments within the next 18
months, sooner than they would otherwise be evaluated.
“The ISO representative indicated a willingness to come back earlier in order to do another assessment,” Macias said. “We have been working on this
issue consistently since it came to my attention. We’re looking at coming forward with a combination of initiatives that we hope within a short period of
time … can turn around the results in these six districts.”
That won’t help homeowners like Rodriguez in the meantime.
“I sure am worried about it,” he said.
Blake Gumprecht may be reached at 575­541­5453, bgumprecht@lcsun­news.com (mailto:bgumprecht@lcsun­news.com) or @blakegumprecht
(http://www.twitter.com/blakegumprecht) on Twitter.
Opinion: County's inaction of fire rankings will be costly to homeowners (/story/opinion/editorial/2018/08/26/countys­inaction­fire­rankings­costly­
homeowners/1099725002/)

Read or Share this story: https://www.lcsun­news.com/story/news/2018/08/26/downgrading­dona­ana­county­fire­districts­hitting­homeowners­
hard/1098065002/

…

6/6

March 2019 Agenda Items – Jeffrey Kerekes
Training
1. Socorro Fire Academy – FFI&II available in May or September (computer coursework and then two
weeks of Monday-Friday in Socorro). Prerequisites needed before signing up for class: Hazmat
Awareness & OperaJons (mulJple opJons) and Firefighter emergency medical care (June 20).
2. Online ongoing training opJons –home/staJon? – Target SoluJons or Wildland training with NFA
hTps://www.usfa.fema.gov/training/nfa/
3. CPR recerJficaJon – here and Quemado with Chaz from Quemado – in progress
4. What trainings do people want/need?
Communica?ons
1. Sign up for e-Dispatch
2. Sign up for a physical address and e-911 via the Assessor’s office: 575-533-6577
3. Please check the roster for accuracy. Who uses email? Junior Firefighters to be added to roster?
4. Statewide fire and prescribed burns updates sent via email: www.nmfireinfo.com
5. Community outreach – increased communicaJons with the LOAs and people. What do you think about
a community email list for things like e-911, changes in fire danger, no open burn noJces, known
prescribed burns, etc… Should we have a website (free)? Fire Truck outreach on Greens Gap Road on a
Friday morning?
6. Which date for our open house?
Repairs/Tasks
1. Black smoke on heater exhaust on roof of truck building
2. Install flow meters and locking ball valves
3. Update on buTerfly valve for fill tower – ordered from Williams Windmill-someone to pick it up
4. Check water storage tanks around the subdivisions
5. BreT Dalbey to log me onto desktop computer
6. Yellow AED in Rescue needs to be recharged (couldn’t find charger)
Administra?ve
1. PERA up to date through 2018. Good unJl January 2020.
2. NFIRS up to date through January. We need to enter February
3. Chief’s MeeJng Update: Recruitment & RetenJon
a. Purchasing change:
i. $0-$200 no PO needed
ii. $200-$1499.99 – PO needed but no bids
iii. $1500-$9,999.99 – PO and three bids (can be online quotes)
b. Free command vehicle possibly this Summer
c. ISO problem in Dona Ana County – Work to increase ISO over the next year
d. Members invited to April 16th MeeJng
e. 1:1 MeeJngs about department?
i. How do we make best use of Fire Corps? Lieutenants, Captains? Welcoming new members
beTer; exit interviews; cerJficates, thank yous, educaJonal opportuniJes, sJpends;
departmental picnic; formal terminaJon process? Wednesday work night?
Help Needed
1. Volunteer to make checklists like Clark suggested
2. Someone to type up (remake) departmental forms so we can have computer copies
On My Radar
1. Repeater Towers
2. Grant ApplicaJons

From: Jeffrey Kerekes
Subject: Meeting Agenda an a ac men s
Date: December 9, 2019 at 8:28 PM
To:

Hey all:
We have our business meeting scheduled for this Saturday at 9am. I am attaching the agenda as well as multiple attachments so that we might
go through the material faster on Saturday.
What is attached:
Agenda
Areas of Concern - these are some of the projects to address the concerns raised at the last special meeting
Letter from SFMO to all fire departments - notice: increase in fire department inspections
New Forms - some of the updated forms we would like you to review and use
To Be Ordered - I am trying to get the ordering organized so we can buy things in January. Please review and let me know what we
missed.
Training Calendar - please review and block in the times
Work Night task list. We need to host another work day to tackle some of this. the next one is on a holiday.

12-December Agenda.pdf

Area of Concern.pdf

COSScan12-04-2019-220433.pdf

new forms.pdf

To Be Ordered.pdf

Training-Jan-Jul-2020.pdf

Wednesday Night Work Night.pdf

Wednesday Night Work Night.pdf

Jeffrey Kerekes

From: Horse Mountain horsemountainfire@gmail.com
Subject: SFMO Inspection Update
Date: February 17, 2020 at 4:41 PM
To:

Hey All:
I wanted to send out a quick update since many of you might be interested in how today’s inspection went. I’m a bit tired so a longer update will
come later - probably at the Biz Meeting.
The inspection was requested yesterday afternoon for today. Originally, the meeting was supposed to be 2 hours and we met for 4.5 hours.
The bottom line is that his major concerns were the SCBA having expired, the HMFD/HMEMS cohabitating the buildings and that we continue
to march forward making progress with paperwork, inspections, testing and requirements.
We explained our plan about the SCBA including the Emergency SOP about not entering buildings, the Firefighter I&II class, submitting the
Firehouse Subs Grant and our willingness to pay cash should we complete out FFI&II class before being awarded a grant for new SCBAs. He
said me might need to buy them anyways but will float our plan up the chain of command. He recommended asking our other Catron County
Departments for four loaners which we will do tomorrow and encouraged us to ask two major departments for older, but compliant SCBAs
which I will do asasp.

He will be sending a letter about the HMFD/HMEMS organizational structure next week. In summary, we
will need to become formally separate organizations with EMS in a separate building or to become a
combined department. I will forward the letter once it arrives and we can develop a plan based on that
information. They would have made us move 2477 today if it had displaced any fire equipment.
That’s the highlights for now. Thanks to everyone who helped clean the fire station and do all the various
tasks to get it ready for the inspection. I appreciate it.

Jeffrey Kerekes
Chief & EMT-B
Horse Mountain Fire Department
9 Frontier Trail, Datil, NM 87821

Sign Up For Official HMFD Updates By Email: http://eepurl.com/ghyiCf
Sign Up For Random HMFD Community Announcements (tag sales/lost pets) By Email:
http://eepurl.com/ghzVDf
Sign Up For Emergency Alerts From Catron County 911 Dispatch 24hrs/day to your phone or email:
https://public.coderedweb.com/CNE/en-US/BFB7CC4C6C0A
Or call the non-emergency number at Catron County Dispatch to have them add you at (575) 533-6222

Printed Date: 03/16/2020

Fire Services Inspection
Fire Department Inspection
New Mexico State Fire Marshal
Fire Services Support Bureau
1120 Paseo De Peralta Room 413
Santa Fe , NM 87504-1269

Fire Chief
Mr. Jeffrey Kerekes
Horse Mountain
9 Frontier Trail
Datil, New Mexico 87821

Activity Date:
Activity Number:
Activity Cause:
Inspector 1 Name:
Inspector 1 Phone:

02/17/20 11:00:00 AM
FSI-et-20-0001
Periodic
Esquipula Tenorio

Status:

Pending

Total Deficiencies:
Corrected Deficiencies:

GPS

Apparatus Checklist
1.

2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

N 34 03 3.21.08 W 108 04.59.09

Answers

Number of Engines
2
2000 Gal / 500 GPM currently in use as the Engine, 750GPM/500gallon Engine that is currently out of service and to be
decomissioned
Number of Tankers
0
Number of Initial Attack
0
Number of Wildland
1
750 Gallons / 500 GPM
Number of Aircraft Firefighting Vehicles
0
Number of Aerials
0
Number of Rescues
0
Number of Others
0

Communications Checklist
1.

9
0

Is an alarm notification system in place?
Radio Dispatched through Catron County Sherrif's Dispatch

Answers
N/A

Fire Department Inspection How Is The Fire Department Dispatched?
The department shall have an alarm notification system in place. This system shall be designed so that there is no
delay in the receipt of alarms and the dispatch of firefighters. Systems shall be designed in accordance with NFPA
1221, the fire suppression rating schedule and the administration code 10.25.10

Page 1 of 13

Printed Date: 03/16/2020
Activity Number: FSI-et-20-0001
Communications Checklist - Continued
2.

How is fire department dispatched?
Central dispatch

General Information Checklist
1.
2.
3.

Pictures Taken
Have water sources within the proposed response area been identified?
Water Source - Please specify:

4.

GPS

5.
6.
7.

Department Type
ISO Rating
Active Members
24 active, 2 Jr. Firefighters, 9 Support, 4 officers, 10 Firefighters
Average Number of Members Responding to Calls
60 & 12 hour Emergency drivers program
Need to Implement a CEVO course no driver training in place

8.
9.

10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.

Answers
Catron County Disptach
Answers
Yes
Yes
46,000 tower with
overhead dump and
hydrant on site, 6,000
gallons of rain barrels
onsite, 63,470
prepositioned within the
community
N 34 03 3.21.08 W 108
04.59.09
Main Staton
9
24
8
No

Fire Department Inspection 60 & 12 Hour Emergency Drivers Program
Shall follow ISO 580. Training. Section D. Driver and Operator Training Classes for new drivers and operators, 60
hours. Shall provided as follows, Requirement in the ISO FSRS, NFPA 1500 and NFPA 1451 60 Hours of Driver training
shall be provided for all NEW driver/operators. CEVO, EVOC courses may count towards this requirement. 5 Points
from ISO 12 Hours of Driver training shall be provided to all existing drivers annually. CEVO, VFIS, courses may count
towards this requirement. 5 Points from ISO.
NFIRS
Yes
Compliant
Is Map of Fire District Displayed?
Yes
Are Records on File At Main Station
Yes
Standard Operating Guidelines (IMS) .10 ISO Points
Yes
Need to update SOG's - New County wide SOG's in draft
Are Automatic Aid Agreements Available?
Yes
County wide Automatic Aid in place, Mutual Aid with BLM, Forestry
Are By Laws Available
Yes
Is Station Manned on a 24 Hour Basis
N/A
Last 3 years of hose test performed ?
No
2018/2019 available and 2017 not performed

Fire Department Inspection Hose Test Performed?
Hose shall be inspected and serviced-tested as specified in Chapter 5 “Service Testing” within 90 days prior to being
placed in service for the first time and at least annually thereafter as required in NFPA 1962 and ISO FSRS 512.C Hose
Service Test.
2019 Engine 1010 only
18. Last 3 years of pump test records
and 2018/2017 not done
Records Checklist
1.

Pre Plans
Will start implementing

Answers
No

Fire Department Inspection Pre Plans
Pre-Fire Planning inspection shall be conducted on all commercial, industrial, institutional and other non-residential

Page 2 of 13

Printed Date: 03/16/2020
Activity Number: FSI-et-20-0001
Records Checklist - Continued

2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

9.

10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.

Answers

occupancies Once a year using fire company personnel. NFPA Standards 1620 and 1420 may be used as a guide to
preparing pre-fire plans. ISO 580 Training (I) Prefire planning inspection of each commercial, industrial, institutional and
other similar type building should be Conducted ONCE a year. Records should include complete and up-to-date notes
and sketches. ISO FSRS Provides up to 12 points for current and complete Pre-Plans
Is A Meeting Log on File?
Yes
Monthly Meetings Held
Are Run Reports on file at Main Station?
Yes
Are Daily or Weekly Inspection on File?
Yes
Monthly Inspections
Accounting Ledger for (FPF) Monies on File?
Yes
All maintained at county clerks office, Mothly Updates
Are Personnel Records on File?
Yes
Are Membership Applications on File?
Yes
Are Monthly SCBA Inspection Records on File
Yes
Inspections started in December 2019, SCBA's out of date and never been hydro tested, created emergency SOP at
the monthly meeting for no personel to enter buring buildings due to SCBA's, waiting for Grant outcome for SCBA's
Breathing Air Compressor/Cascade Log on File?
N/A
Quemado FD
Fire Department Inspection Breathing Air Compressor/Cascade Log On File?
All air quality tests shall be performed in accordance with NFPA 1404 chapter 7
Are Hydrant Records on File?
Is a PPE Clothing Inspection Log on File?
Are Exposure & Accident Reports on File?
Go through County for report
Are training Records on File?
2 monthly trainings an average of 4 hours each
How Often is Training Held
How Long is each Training Session
Inventory of Equipment purchased w/ FPF on File?

N/A
Yes
N/A
Yes
Twice a month
4
Yes

Station Appearance Checklist
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Answers

Grounds
Building Appearance
Bay Area Appearance
Office Appearance
Storage
Living Area

Good
Good
Good
Good
Good
N/A

Apparatus Inspections
Wildland Apparatus - - 1014
Activity Performed: Wildland Apparatus
Activity Date: 02/17/2020
Next Service Type: N/A
Wildland - General Checklist
1
2
3
4
5
6
7

Method of Purchase
Tank Capacity (Req. 125)
Pump Capacity
Apparatus #
Make
Year
Condition
Fair

Location: N/A
Date Due: N/A
Answers
Tranfered from Datil FD
750 Gallons
500 GPM
1014
Ford
1968
Fair

Page 3 of 13

Printed Date: 03/16/2020
Activity Number: FSI-et-20-0001
8
9

Test Plate
All Warning Devices Operate

N/A
Yes

Wildland - Required Equipment Checklist

Answers

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16

Mounted Radio
Portable Radios
Hand Lights (2)
Axe (1 Any Type)
Spade Tip Shovel (1)
Fire Extinguisher Inspection Maintenance
Hydrant Wrench .
Fire Extinguisher (1- B/C)
Spanner Wrenches (2)
Hose (200') (1) "
Nozzles to fit hose
First Aid Kit (24 Unit)
Hand Pump Extinguisher (1)
Wheel Chocks (2)
Hard suction 20 ft.
Suction Strainer

Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes

Sub-Activity Pictures

File Name:
ImageCaptured 20200217 140 PM.bmp
Description:

File Name:
ImageCaptured 20200217 141 PM.bmp
Description:

File Name:
ImageCaptured 20200217 141 PM.bmp
Description:

Page 4 of 13

Printed Date: 03/16/2020
Activity Number: FSI-et-20-0001
File Name:
ImageCaptured 20200217 142 PM.bmp
Description:

File Name:
ImageCaptured 20200217 142 PM.bmp
Description:

File Name:
ImageCaptured 20200217 143 PM.bmp
Description:

Apparatus Inspections
Structural Apparatus - - 1010
Activity Performed: Structural Apparatus
Activity Date: 02/17/2020
Next Service Type: N/A
Structural Apparatus - General Checklist
1
2
3
4
5

6
7
8

Location: N/A
Date Due: N/A
Answers

Year
2004
Make
Freightliner
Foam System Type
Mix
Unit #
1010
Water Tank Capacity (Gallons)
2000 Gallons
Test Plate showing 500 Gallon Tank Capacity, Manufacture Records showing 2,000GPM. Need to contact
manufature and get test plate corrected. Manufacture
Pump Capacity (750GPM Minimum)
500 GPM
Must have a 750 GPM + pump capacity to meet NFPA requirments
Do All Warning Lights Work?
Yes
Backup Alarm
Yes

Structural Apparatus - Required Equipment Checklist

Answers

Page 5 of 13

Printed Date: 03/16/2020
Activity Number: FSI-et-20-0001
1
2

First Aid Kit
Yes
Play Pipe (One 2-1/2) "
No
Will attempt to purchase or get one donated
Violation: Fire Department Inspection - Play Pipe (One 2-1/2")
NFPA 1901, 2016 The following Fire Hose and Nozzles Shall be carried on the apparatus: 1. 800 Ft of 2
1/2 in. or Larger Fire Hose (Supply Line) 2. 400 Ft of 1 1/2, 1 3/4 or 2 in Fire Hose (Attack Line) 3. One
handline nozzle, 200 GPM, minimum 4. Two handline nozzles, 95 gpm minimum 5.One Playpipe with
Shutoff and 1 in, 1 1/8 in and 1 1/4 in Tips
Not Corrected

3

2 1/2 or Larger Required 1200 ft"
No
Violation: Fire Department Inspection - 2 1/2" Or Larger Required 1200Ft.
NFPA 1901, 2016 The following Fire Hose and Nozzles Shall be carried on the apparatus: 1. 800 Ft of 2
1/2 in. or Larger Fire Hose (Supply Line) 2. 400 Ft of 1 1/2, 1 3/4 or 2 in Fire Hose (Attack Line) 3. One
handline nozzle, 200 GPM, minimum 4. Two handline nozzles, 95 gpm minimum 5.One Playpipe with
Shutoff and 1 in, 1 1/8 in and 1 1/4 in Tips ISO Requirement: SECTION 512 (B) Length of supply line,
comprising up to 1,000 feet in accordance with the general criteria of NFPA 1901. Less than the 1,000 feet
of supply line, full credit is not given by ISO.
Not Corrected

4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17

1 1/2-2" (400 FT) "
Yes
15 ft SOFT OR 20 ft HARD SUCTION HOSE
Yes
SUCTION STRAINER (1)
Yes
FIRE EXTINGUISHER 1-80 B:C
Yes
2-1/2 GALLON WATER EXTINGUISHER
Yes
Fire Extinguisher inspection & maintenance
Yes
WHEEL CHOCKS (2)
Yes
8 FT PIKE POLE
Yes
2-SALVAGE COVERS (12 X 14") "
Yes
10 ft FOLDING/ATTIC
Yes
12 FT OR LONGER ROOF LADDER
Yes
24 FT. LADDER
Yes
HAND LIGHTS (2 REQUIRED)
Yes
SCBA REQUIRED (4)
Yes
Currently have 4 on loan until new ones are purchased
SCBA SPARE BOTTLES (REQUIRED 4)
No
SCBA's outdated and working on getting some
Violation: Fire Department Inspection - SCBA Spare Bottles (Required 4)
Shall provide a minimum of four self-contained breathing apparatus bottles mounted in a bracket fastened
to the apparatus or stored in containers supplied by the SCBA manufacturer as required in NFPA 1901 and
ISO’s FSRS.
Not Corrected

1 Occurrence(s)

1 Occurrence(s)

18

1 Occurrence(s)
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27

28
29

SCBA PASS DEVICES (4)
Yes
2 1/2 DOUBLE FEMALE REQUIRED (1) "
Yes
2 1/2 DOUBLE MALE (1)
Yes
Gated Wye 2 1/2 "
Yes
RUBBER MALLET
Yes
MOUNTED RADIOS
Yes
COMBINATION 95 GPM (2)
Yes
NOZZLE COMBINATION 200GPM
Yes
Master Stream 1000 GPM (ISO Required)
No
Pump Capacity of 500 GPM
Violation: Fire Department Inspection - Master Stream 1000 GPM (Iso Required)
This Device is required by ISO for Pumper Apparatus Equipment. It is worth 100 Points of Credit. See
Table 512A for ISO required equipment for Pumpers
Not Corrected
6LB FLAT HEAD AXE
Yes
Pick Head Axe
Yes

Page 6 of 13

Printed Date: 03/16/2020
Activity Number: FSI-et-20-0001
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39

SPANNER WRENCHES (4)
HYDRANT WRENCHES (2)
1 HOSE CLAMP
FORCIBLE ENTRY TOOL
2 1/2 HYDRANT GATE VALVE "
Automatic External Defibrillator
1 Traffic Vest for Each Seat?
4
5 Illuminated Warning Devices/Cones?
5 Orange Traffic Cones?
Equipment mounted properly

Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes

Sub-Activity Pictures

File Name:
ImageCaptured 20200217 124 PM.bmp
Description:

File Name:
ImageCaptured 20200217 125 PM.bmp
Description:

File Name:
ImageCaptured 20200217 125 PM.bmp
Description:

Page 7 of 13

Printed Date: 03/16/2020
Activity Number: FSI-et-20-0001
File Name:
ImageCaptured 20200217 125 PM.bmp
Description:

File Name:
ImageCaptured 20200217 126 PM.bmp
Description:

File Name:
ImageCaptured 20200217 126 PM.bmp
Description:

File Name:
ImageCaptured 20200217 127 PM.bmp
Description:

Page 8 of 13

Printed Date: 03/16/2020
Activity Number: FSI-et-20-0001
File Name:
ImageCaptured 20200217 127 PM.bmp
Description:

File Name:
ImageCaptured 20200217 128 PM.bmp
Description:

File Name:
ImageCaptured 20200217 128 PM.bmp
Description:

File Name:
ImageCaptured 20200217 129 PM.bmp
Description:

Pictures

Page 9 of 13

Printed Date: 03/16/2020
Activity Number: FSI-et-20-0001
File Name:
ImageCaptured 20200217 130 PM.bmp
Description:

File Name:
ImageCaptured 20200217 130 PM.bmp
Description:

File Name:
20200217_112728.jpg
Description:

File Name:
20200217_154813.jpg
Description:

Page 10 of 13

Printed Date: 03/16/2020
Activity Number: FSI-et-20-0001
File Name:
20200217_154817.jpg
Description:

File Name:
20200217_154819.jpg
Description:

File Name:
20200217_154823.jpg
Description:

File Name:
20200217_154848.jpg
Description:

Page 11 of 13

Printed Date: 03/16/2020
Activity Number: FSI-et-20-0001
File Name:
20200217_154849.jpg
Description:

File Name:
20200217_154901.jpg
Description:

File Name:
20200217_154907.jpg
Description:

File Name:
20200217_154909.jpg
Description:

Page 12 of 13

Printed Date: 03/16/2020
Activity Number: FSI-et-20-0001
File Name:
20200217_155003.jpg
Description:

Inspection Notes
Present during Horse Mountain VFD Inspection : Chief Jeffrey Kerekes and Assistant Chief Larry Moniz. Horse Mountain Volunteer Fire
Department currently has 25 members which all consist of: 10 Firefighters, 4 Officers, 9 Support and 2 Jr. Firefighters. Going through
the Department records, they appear to be in order and well maintained, with some deficiencies that we had talked about and Chief stated
that he will start implementing. Chief Kerekes became Chief in December of 2019, so he is working on getting things in order and
moving forward with record keeping. Emergency Driving Program will be implemented and has not been done in the past few years.
Currently there are three fire apparatus and one rescue ambulance in the station. Engine 1010 which was consider the Tender for the
department until recently due to Engine 1015 being placed out of service by the membership. This was due to Engine 1015 being over 25
years old, not passing a pump test due to over heating. Engine 1010 carries a capacity of 2,000 Gallons of water, but the pump test plate
is stamped at 500 Gallons capacity, pump manufacture will be contacted by Chief Kerekes. SCBAs are out of date and need replacing, at
time of inspection Chief Kerekes stated that he would attempt to locate loaned SCBAs until he is able to purchase new SCBAs and
bottles. It is recommended that the Priority for Horse Mountain Fire department at this time would be to place an apparatus in service
that would have at least a 750GPM pump, preferably 1,000GPM, and SCBA equipment. It was a pleasure meeting with the Chiefs of
Horse Mountain Volunteer Fire Department, Esquipula Tenorio, SFMO Fire Department Inspector.

( Fire Chief to provide a written action plan on deficiencies listed on this report within 30 days of inspection)
Default Signature Type

Esquipula Tenorio, SFMO
Esquipula Tenorio
New Mexico State Fire Marshal
Fire Services Support Bureau
1120 Paseo De Peralta Room 413
Santa Fe New Mexico87504-1269

Page 13 of 13