Dona Ana County proposes MOU to assume Hatch fire and EMS services, citing faster response times and AMR exit

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…