Malaga Fire Department will remain in operation after a 90-day probation was lifted by the Eddy County Fire Board at a meeting last Monday.
"We've seen improvement enough that our fire board voted to come off probation," said Eddy Count Fire Service director Josh Mack. "We will continue to monitor to make sure we’re providing coverage to the community in that area."
A probation period was first implemented on Feb. 1. Officials with the volunteer fire department were asked to improve response time, increase membership and maintain the fire station.
Officials were given a May 1 deadline to make the improvements.
Failure to complete the goals would have resulted in the department being absorbed by the Eddy County Fire Service or a nearby volunteer fire department.
Malaga Fire Chief Alton Walker said the probation was removed early because the meeting was the last scheduled before deadline.
"The three main goals that were put forth have been more than met," Walker said. "We've gained all three of the stipulations that they put on us to achieve, and we've achieved them by 300 percent."
Walker said the station currently has 12 members — three times more than at the beginning of the year. Their response time — the time between when they receive the call and are en route to the site — improved to approximately four minutes from a previous eight to 12-minute response.
The department has responded to about 25 calls between Feb.1 and Monday. Due to their location, many of them involve an accident on U.S. Highway 285.
But Walker said recent calls involve grass fires as a result of the ongoing fire season in Eddy County.
He said about half of the members, including Assistant Fire Chief Gabriel Morales, live within a mile of the station.
"They're getting pretty hectic. And what starts a lot of those grass fires are vehicle fires," he said. "We've had several truck fires that have been blown out tires or dragging the chain and catching the grass on fire.
"Our grass fire season is in full swing right now."
The department also assisted other stations such as Joel, Otis and Loving Volunteer Fire departments.
"We've done very well with our responses," Walker said.
Walker said he expressed gratitude to the board when he learned the probation was lifted. He said his goal is to continue to work with Morales and keep Malaga Volunteer Fire Department afloat.
Walker said the department is already in the process of purchasing new turnout, or bunker gear.
"We're moving forward at a fast pace," he said. "We've achieved that family atmosphere that we were looking for. We've achieved that with the membership. It's already a close knit group."
Mack said the the Eddy County Fire Service is still in need of volunteer firefighters. Anyone interested may visit www.co.eddy.nm.us or call the County Fire Service at 575-628-5450.
DeJanay Booth can be reached at 575-628-5546, [email protected] and @DeJanayBooth on Twitter.
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