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Commission reallocates training funds and hears plan for wildland firefighting hub
Summary
The board approved reallocation of $20,000 from infrastructure to employee training to certify three newly hired firefighters and approved an unauthorized purchase; commissioners also heard plans to develop a wildland fire hub in Torreon and noted 11 firefighters passed the Pack Test for deployment eligibility.
Torrance County commissioners approved a request March 11 to re‑appropriate $20,000 in county infrastructure funds from training equipment to employee training so newly hired firefighters can complete required certifications, and they ratified an unauthorized $384.95 purchase for an Assistant Fire Chief's investigator training course.
Fire Chief Gary Smith said the department recently hired three firefighters, bringing staffing to 22 full‑time positions, and that funds would cover tuition, per diem and travel for required forms of certification including EMT Basic, Firefighter I and II. Chief Smith described a hybrid training approach that mixes regional academy attendance (for example, a five‑month CNM program) with in‑house training and said his long‑term staffing goal is roughly 30 full‑time firefighters.
Commissioner Linda Jaramillo reported on meetings with local fire stakeholders about making the Torreon station operational and suggested it could serve as a central wildland fire hub for nearby mountain communities. Gary Bixler and fire staff described grant efforts to fund a Wildland Coordinator position; commissioners noted that 11 firefighters passed the recent Pack Test (a 3‑mile hike with a 45‑pound pack) making them eligible for wildland deployment.
The commission approved the training reallocation and the unauthorized purchase motions in separate roll calls, each recorded as unanimous.
