By Kevin Hendricks, The Paper.
Residents of Cuba and surrounding northwestern Sandoval County communities now have paid paramedics and firefighters on duty around the clock. The county made it official Friday by opening Fire Station 34 with a ribbon and a fire hose.
Sandoval County Fire and Rescue took over advanced life support, fire, wildland and technical rescue calls in the region July 1. That came one day after Cuba Emergency Medical Services closed following 40 years of service.
“Emergency care is not a convenience,” Commission Chair Jordan Juarez said.
Cuba-NW! Back row, from right: Deputy County Manager Eric Masterson; County Manager Wayne
Johnson; Anthony Leyba, State Fire Marshal’s Office; and AJ Trujillo, Chief, District 3 Volunteer Fire
Station. (SandCo)
The Jicarilla Apache Nation helps fund a fourth crew member on every shift through an agreement with the county, according to a county press release. A supplemental Medicaid ambulance program also helps pay for the expanded service.
Fire Chief Chris Bagley said the station proves the north deserves “the same services as the people in the more populated south.”
Station 34 serves Cuba, Regina, La Jara, San Luis, the Tri-Chapters of the Navajo Nation and parts of the Jicarilla Apache Nation. County crews still respond alongside volunteer firefighters from Cuba, Torreon, Regina and La Jara. In firehouse tradition, firefighter Dakota Trujillo christened the station with a wet-down spray, and a rainbow showed up to the party.