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San Juan County Fire and Rescue describes combined department, training and regional response roles
Summary
A presenter for San Juan County outlined the capabilities of the newly formed San Juan County Fire and Rescue Group, highlighting training for reserve and staff firefighters, specialized rescue teams, a marine unit and more than 8,000 annual calls; no formal board actions were recorded.
San Juan County Fire and Rescue Group, a newly formed combination fire department, described its staffing, training and operational capabilities during a presentation to county officials. A staff member presenting for San Juan County Fire and Rescue said the department serves Bloomfield, Kirtland and unincorporated areas of the county and responds to more than 8,000 calls annually.
"A culture of service and a standard of excellence," the staff member said, summarizing the department's mission. The presenter described the department as a combination organization that deploys both reserve and career firefighters.
The presenter said reserve firefighters receive nationally accredited instruction that covers structural firefighting, wildland firefighting, vehicle extrication, hazardous-materials response and emergency medicine. "Members become part of a paternal family of firefighters with a long lineage of people who dedicated themselves to helping their neighbors," the staff member said. The presentation noted that modern fire services bring new technology and new challenges that the department trains to meet.
The department described several specialized capabilities: a marine unit identified as County Marine 1 that can fight fires and perform water rescues; technical rescue teams trained for swift-water, ice and high-angle rescues; and participation in a Joint Fire and Explosion Investigation Task Force for fire investigations. The presenter said the fire marshal's office performs life-safety inspections and works on community risk reduction.
San Juan County Fire and Rescue also said its Wild Land Team accepts assignments across the American Southwest to assist large-scale incidents. The presenter added that equipment and fleets vary by zone to meet local needs, and emphasized the department's personnel as its core asset.
No motions, votes or formal decisions were recorded in the presentation; staff presented capabilities and scope of service rather than seeking board action.
