Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Mark Klaene on April 27, 2010 at 3:21pm

So what I understand we expect some reduction in state fire funds this year --not a lot but some. I hear that this is due to reduced income from the insurance companies because of the economy (people canceling or reducing their insurance) this coupled with the states fiscal problems suggest a march on Santa Fe would be pointless as there is nothing we or they will be able to do about it

I have not see a reduction in safety around here yet, but I do see more restricted spending which will lead to safety issues in the future

I do see and hear something that is very disturbing though. The NMSFMO seems to be really curtailing our ability to purchase items unless directly related to structure fires even to ISO class 5,6, 7 departments. Now I find this very troubling. Their excuse is that the state fire fund is paid by insurance companies for structure fires and that is what it is suppose to be used for. But the state statute allows for other spending if below a class 9 . Now I don't know about anyone else but insurance companies are raising rates and even dropping homes in my district not because of structure fires but damage to structures caused by wildland fires. In WUI areas (much of this state's rural areas) you can't separate structure fires from structure protection for wildfires. If I can't buy wildland fire suppression equipment and PPE then these homes and us are at risk. It is ridiculous!

I guess it is Ok to have firefighters injured or killed in this state on a wildland fire as long as they are protected during structure fires.

Permalink Reply by charles h clapper III on April 29, 2010 at 10:45pm

As for now the safety issue has been fairly small, however, i am a wildland firefighter for state forrestry, we had a couple of fires about a month ago. Usually we are put on full time by now. the lack of funding this year we are only going to be put on when a fire breaks out. no readiness budget,the first fire of the season, it took us over 3 hours before we could even think about responding, engine checks hadnt been done for about 6 months. one engine had a flat, and no water, another engine had a dead battery, the third engine, the pump neede servicing, which that crew didnt figure out untill they went in to start attacking the fire and the pump wouldnt run, I went down there the day before that and was going to get at least on engine operable, but i was told that they where all ok. granted they are not big issues but i can see where it easily could have. as far as the SFMO that has been going on for a while, White Oaks VFD tried to buy a brush truck(type 6)a few years back and it was shot down twicefor the same reason that you mentioned which they could afford. however they where able to buy a huge structure tender that they didnt need, and can barely afford, White oaks hasnt had a structure fire in over 12 years. (LMAO) However they have had numerous brush fires in the area one being the Patos fire. when they tried to buy wildland ppe that was shot down also The new pumper that they have is so big that they really cant drive it on those little dirt roads. it costs them so much that the budget is strained, and maintenance on the other vehicles are not up to par brush truck is a 86 and ready to die, there is no logic to that.


maybe we should drop a safenet on santa fe (LOL)