La Cienega Volunteer Fire District
The La Cienega Volunteer Fire Department was originally started approximately twenty-eight years ago because several of the residents, who were also farmers at the time, would burn off / clear fields in preparation for yearly planting. These fires would sometimes get out of control in the La Cienega Valley bringing them (the residents) together to fight the field fires with whatever resources and personnel they had available. The department started with a run down garage donated by a resident/member for housing of a 4x4 brush truck on loan by the forest service. Years later, on land donated next to the community center, the members/residents built the current substation (then main station) with donated building materials and labor. Members were trained to basic firefighter levels (no certifications available) however no medical/first aid was available at the time. The organized volunteers responded to approximately 10 calls a year with a used fire engine and borrowed firefighting equipment.
Insurance Services Organization (ISO) Rating for the La Cienega Volunteer Fire District (6/8B):ISO collects information (such as nearest water supply, fire station, station staffing, paid or volunteer, number of personnel, number and type of fire trucks, pumping capacity, etc.) on municipal fire-protection efforts in communities throughout the United States. Based on the information a numerical rating is given to the area which is used by insurance companies to determine premiums. The Santa Fe County Fire Department is set up to meet/exceed the NFPA 1231 Water Supplies for Suburban and Rural Firefighting requirement of 250 gallons of water per minute for 2 hours. Because of this, there is currently, not a district in the County that has a class 10 rating. Lower ISO ratings apply to specific areas and subdivisions in the district with a hydranted water supply or inspected water source within 1,000 feet of a residence or 500 feet of a commercial business. Higher ISO ratings apply district wide where there are no hydrants or inspected water sources within 1,000 feet of a residence or 500 feet of a commercial business.
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The La Cienega Fire District is situated in west central Santa Fe County and is responsible for providing fire and emergency medical services to the communities of La Cienega, Rancho Viejo, Cochiti Pueblo, Cochiti Village, Valle Vista, the Santa Fe Community College and the Santa Fe Outlet Mall. Its two stations are located at #14 Fire Place and #18 Camino San Jose which houses two Class A foam pumpers, two pump & roll tankers, two brush trucks and a state of the art, compressed air foam (CAFS) rescue with heavy extrication capabilities. The district responds to approximately 450 fire and EMS calls a year with 10 certified Firefighter/EMT's protecting approx. 70 sq. miles, a major interstate, large residential development and an ever-increasing commercial development area along state highway 14. The district assists and receives aid from other agencies including NM State Forestry, US Forest Service, the City of Santa Fe, Cochiti Pueblo, Sandoval County Fire Department, as well as other Santa Fe County Districts.