The City of Las Vegas Fire Department was established in the early 1970’s  and has grown from eight (8) paid firefighters to twenty (20), and has one civilian employee.

The Fire Department provides various services which include but are not limited to: Fire Protection, Basic Life Support Emergency Medical Care, Business Inspections and Fire Prevention Classes.

The Fire Department has evolved from an all volunteer department that originated in 1882 to a combination department to the current all paid department.

The E. Romero Hose & Fire Co. is the oldest established Fire Department in the State of New Mexico.  Shortly after that Co. 1 was established becoming the second oldest Fire Department in the State.  The City of Las Vegas was divided in to two (2) towns, that being the Town of Las Vegas and East Las Vegas.  Being separated by the Gallinas River they became known as West and East Las Vegas.  Each having its own Fire Department as listed above respectively.

Currently we operate out of two (2) twenty-four hour stations and one (1) unmanned sub-station.

The City of Las Vegas Fire Department would like to remind those of you who use wood burning heaters to clean your chimney often to prevent chimney fires.

The Fire Department took delivery of this fire engine in June of 2005 it is the newest piece of apparatus in the fire departments fleet.  It is a 2005 Ken Worth and carries 1000 gallons of water.  This fire engine was purchased through legislative funding.  During last years legislative session we received funding to replace another fire which we hope on doing soon.

FIRE PREVENTION

In the Las Vegas and surrounding area we have not received very much moisture by way of snow or rain.  This is causing Extreme Dry conditions.  We ask that you use caution with anything that may cause a fire.

Reducing potentially flammable vegetation around homes and structures in the wildland / urban interface (WUI) area provides a fighting chance for both firefighters and homes against destructive wildfires.

Fuel Break Characteristics: How big should you make a fuel break? It depends on the risk.  Every structure in the WUI area should have at least a 30’ fuel break around it.

Structures on steep lopes should have fuel breaks of about 50’ - 100’.

In areas where high intensity fire are likely, or suppression efforts may be delayed or unavailable you may need 100’ - 200’.

Where a home has a long driveway with poor access for apparatus, a 200’ -500’ fuel break is not unreasonable.

Other points to consider:

· Reduce ground level fuels, a green lawn is an excellent barrier between a home and an advancing fire.  Tall, dry native grass is another matter.  Trim native grass to four inches or lower.  Rake and remove needle and leaf accumulations.

· Remove highly flammable landscaping, vegetation such as juniper, Scot’s broom and gorse.

· Make your homes driveway accessible , clear away brush and overhanging branches to a minimum width of 12 feet and a height of 13 1/2 feet to ensure apparatus access.

· Remove debris from gutters, needles, leaves and chaff build up in gutters during the winter months and dry out during the summer months.   

The Explorer Program is for young boys and girls between the ages of 14 - 21.  The program helps promote life skills, responsibility and is an introduction into the fire service.  Explorers train on various subjects that full time firefighters train on.  

Learning about Emergency Medical operations.

Search & Rescue Training.

The Explorer Program is led by:
Lead Advisor - FF David Garcia, LVFD
Advisor - Lt. Josheph Harris, LVFD
Training Advisor - Capt. Arthur Hererra, LVFD
Female Advisor - Joann Garcia

Anyone interested in joining the Explorer Program can contact the Fire Department at 425-6321.

Business Office / Station 1 is located at:

604 Legion Dr.
Las Vegas, NM 87701

PH: 505-425-6321

Fax: 505-425-1631 

Station 2 is located at: 

1901 New Mexico Ave.
Las Vegas, NM 87701

PH: 505-425-9373

Station 3 (unmanned) is located at:

622 6th St.
Las Vegas, NM 87701