SUNLAND PARK, N.M. (KFOX14/CBS4) — The Sunland Park Fire Department has reported a significant increase in emergency calls over the past four years. In 2024 alone, the department says it received 2,804 calls.More than half the calls were rescues and emergency medical services, which can include gas leaks and house fires.Fire Chief Daniel Medrano said the department has seen a spike in calls related to migrants, particularly between the months of May and September. Medrano says they responded to about 150 to 300 migrant-re...
SUNLAND PARK, N.M. (KFOX14/CBS4) — The Sunland Park Fire Department has reported a significant increase in emergency calls over the past four years. In 2024 alone, the department says it received 2,804 calls.
More than half the calls were rescues and emergency medical services, which can include gas leaks and house fires.
Fire Chief Daniel Medrano said the department has seen a spike in calls related to migrants, particularly between the months of May and September. Medrano says they responded to about 150 to 300 migrant-related calls throughout those two months.
Medrano said the department has to make financial adjustments to address the rise in calls by ensuring their equipment is ideal to prepare for any rescue or incident and training personnel.
"Prior to 2021, we had two off-road vehicles. One was used as a brush truck with a small pump in the back, similar to a military Humvee, for accessing ATV fires and brush fires. The other was a small Polaris used mostly for parades and pilgrimages. When we started seeing the spike in migrant calls, we had to put patient transport systems on those vehicles, taking the pump off and replacing it, all out of our own budget," Medrano said.
Medrano added that last year, the department addressed the issue by training personnel and outfitting them with proper rescue equipment, which incurred additional costs.
Melissa Herrera reports on the increase of calls the Sunland Park Fire Department saw in 2024.
The department is also preparing for the city's growth said Medrano. The department is in the planning stages of building station number three and is discussing the possibility of station four. Additionally, the department is expecting to receive its first ladder truck by mid-2026.
Since April 2020, the department has doubled its crew and now has a fully staffed team of 28 personnel. However, Medrano noted that this number might change as the city continues to develop.
"This is mainly based on the city's growth," Medrano said. "In the northern part of the city, we have a lot of new neighborhoods and construction. Families are moving in, and we need to address that."
The Sunland Park Fire Department considers its efforts a success and said city officials understand the department's needs and demands.
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