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County fire asks for six new firefighter‑EMTs, plans staffing study and pilots wildfire detection cameras
Summary
Santa Fe County Fire Chief Black discussed a grant-funded addition of six firefighter‑EMTs, reclassifications to create relief factor, capital requests for ambulances and rugged laptops, and participation in a pilot for AI‑assisted fire‑detection cameras.
The Santa Fe County Fire Department presented its FY2026 requests Wednesday, including six firefighter‑EMT positions funded by a Department of Finance and Administration recruitment grant, reclassifications to strengthen supervision, capital replacement for apparatus and a county role in pilot wildfire‑detection cameras.
Fire Chief Black told the Board the FY2026 budget includes six firefighter EMT positions funded initially through a New Mexico Department of Finance and Administration grant and reclassification of three vacant firefighter EMT positions and two lieutenant positions to create supervisory relief. Chief Black said the changes will help reduce mandatory and voluntary overtime and support a second ambulance out of Station 60 and 24/7 staffing at La Puebla Station 52 over phased implementation.
Why it matters: Staffing and apparatus availability shape response times for both medical emergencies and wildland/structural fires across large rural areas of the county.
“First is the funding to support the 6 additional firefighter EMT positions that were funded through the New Mexico DFA firefighter EMT recruitment grant,” Chief Black said. He added the department currently has seven vacancies and that the grant-supported hires plus reclassifications would allow the department to expand services and build a relief factor to reduce overtime; “Our current mandatory overtime over a 6 month period, we were, averaging 111 mandatory overtime shifts a month,” he said.
Capital needs and detection pilots: The department’s capital list includes rugged field laptops, reconditioning two regional ambulances, a new engine for the Northern Region and advanced medical monitors and ventilators. Chief Black said many apparatus purchases already encumbered in prior years remain in production and will carry forward through FY26.
Chief Black also described collaboration with state and federal partners and the Forest Stewards Guild on a pilot for fire‑detection cameras monitored by an AI platform that would alert a human reviewer and could integrate notifications into RECC. He said that stakeholders including the city, state forestry, U.S. Forest Service and university partners are participating in pilots and that financial requests for a production rollout would follow after pilot results.
Mental‑health and MIH: The budget also includes funding to expand the department’s mobile integrated health (MIH) activities, add a MIH staff position and use volunteers to support outreach; Chief Black said the MIH team is working with volunteer districts and Presbyterian Medical Services for clinical support.
What’s next: The department will proceed with an independent staffing study to quantify countywide fire and EMS needs and return to the board with recommended longer-term staffing and apparatus plans.
