At a Sept. 2 work session, Interim Fire Chief Andy Bowen told the Dona Ana County Board of County Commissioners that the county is proposing a memorandum of understanding with the Village of Hatch under which Hatch would deed its fire station, a house behind the station and firefighting apparatus to the county and the county would station at least one career engine and a rescue vehicle in Hatch to provide fire and fire‑based EMS services.

The MOU, Bowen said, would also include the transfer of the village’s state fire funds to the county to cover equipment and repair costs; Hatch would not pay an additional service fee under the current proposal. Commissioners were told the county would keep the state funds and expect the funding level to increase if the station becomes a career (full‑time) station.

Bowen said the change would centralize county resources in the north part of the county and substantially improve response times. “Our average response time right now to Garfield is 31 minutes from Rincon. To Hatch it’s 17 minutes from Rincon,” Bowen said, adding that locating a county station in Hatch would “cut that response time in half.”

The presentation described the current Hatch facility as needing renovation or eventual replacement; a residence behind the station is vacant and its condition is unclear. Bowen said one option would be to remove the house and move a single‑wide trailer currently at the Anthony station to Hatch to provide immediate living quarters for career staff.

Bowen said Hatch currently relies on volunteers for fire response and that the county would welcome volunteers who wished to continue serving under county supervision. He also said Hatch’s apparatus lacks EMS equipment and the village does not provide transport; that gap is one reason the county would need career staffing in Hatch if it assumes transport responsibilities.

Commissioners pressed for clarity on staffing, property condition and funding. Commissioner Reynolds noted the county already handles most calls in the Hatch area and said the transfer could benefit residents in northern Dona Ana County. When Commissioner Sanchez asked whether Hatch had begun approving the transfer on its side, Bowen said Hatch plans to present a resolution on Sept. 9 and the county hoped to review the MOU that morning so both bodies could act in sequence.

County staff also flagged a deadline: “We have received word from AMR that they will be vacating Hatch on that day,” Bowen said, referring to Sept. 21; AMR is the private ambulance contractor that had provided transport services in Hatch. Commissioners described that notification as creating time sensitivity for the county to have staffing and the MOU in place.

No formal action was taken at the Sept. 2 work session; Bowen said the MOU will be on the county’s agenda for review the following week and Hatch intends to act at its Sept. 9 meeting.

The board asked staff to bring the draft MOU, property and staffing assessments, and a clearer estimate of costs to the next meeting so commissioners could consider the transfer and any necessary implementation steps.

A county presentation and commissioner discussion at the Sept. 2 work session also documented these clarifying operational points: the county would station a career engine and a rescue in the area; volunteers could be incorporated as volunteers under county service; Hatch would transfer its recurring state fire fund allocation to the county; and the house behind the station is vacant and its condition is reported inconsistently by village sources.

Next steps: staff will present the draft MOU to the board for review at the next meeting; Hatch expects to consider a corresponding resolution on Sept. 9, and county staff said they are working to ensure coverage before AMR exits on Sept. 21.