MESILLA -- Out with the old, in with the new, and Mesilla Volunteer Fire Department Chief Kevin Hoban thanked God.
With 12 members of the Mesilla Volunteer Fire Department, and help from a representative of the Organ Volunteer Fire Department and Las Cruces Fire Chief Travis Brown, the town's first-ever brand new fire truck was pushed Tuesday into Mesilla's fire station, 2670 Calle de Parian. There were concerns the fire truck might not fit into its new digs.
"There was some impromptu remodeling that had to be done," Mayor Nora Barraza admitted. "They had to move the area where the firefighters store their bunker gear. There was some worries the truck might not fit in there, but it does."
The $311,000 Spartan Metro Star X pumper is the first brand new fire truck Mesilla has purchased since it incorporated as a municipality in the late 1950s. Until now, the town either bought used fire trucks or acquired new ones through state or federal grants.
After it was rolled into its bay at the Mesilla Fire Department, firefighters climbed through the new truck examining -- and often marveling -- at every inch of the apparatus.
"We've come of age. It's a wonderful day," said firefighter Chad Zecha, who formerly served as fire chief.
The firefighters spent much of Tuesday afternoon training with the new truck.
"This is such an important day, monumental day for Mesilla," Barraza said.
Before the truck was moved into the fire station, Barraza thanked the firefighters. They voted to forego stipends paid to them by the town so the money could instead be used to purchase the fire truck.
"Without your sacrifice this would never have been possible," said Barraza, to the firefighters.
Hoban echoed the same thoughts.
"When the bond election got defeated a year ago I cried out to God," an emotional Hoban said. "These guys deserve a truck."
Looking up at the morning sky, acknowledging the Lord, Hoban, with a cracking voice, added, "You make a way when we don't see a way. I thank God for them (firefighters) and I'm so proud of them."
The new fire truck was a sharp contrast to the headquarters where it will be kept. There are numerous ceiling cracks inside the fire station, and portions of the building need adequate heating and cooling. The bond election Hoban and Barraza spoke of could have provided $1 million to purchase a new fire truck and make repairs to the Mesilla Public Safety Building. But Mesilla voters soundly rejected the proposal in March 2012, leaving town officials and firefighters to search for other funding options.
Barraza and town administrators lobbied legislators earlier this year for as much as $500,000 in state capital outlay funds to repair the Public Safety Building, which also houses the Mesilla Marshal's Department. It will be at least another month before Mesilla officials know if the town will receive state funds this year.
"We're just at the point where we're hoping it will happen," Barraza said. "The governor has the final say, and we've heard that where public safety is involved she won't veto funding. We realize there's an awful lot of needs in Mesilla, but we made public safety the number one funding priority this year. We just hope it all works out."
Steve Ramirez can be reached at 575-541-5452. Follow him on Twitter @SteveRamirez6
Brand new
-- Mesilla received Tuesday a new Spartan Metro Star X fire truck.
-- It is the first brand new fire truck the town has purchased.
-- Mesilla received a $311,000 loan from the New Mexico Department of Finance and Administration to buy the fire truck.
-- The fire truck is a the first Type 1 pumper the town has received since 1994.
-- It will replace a 26-year-old fire truck.
-- The new fire truck has a 1,500 gallon-per-minute pump, is capable of using foam to fight fires, and is able to seat six firefighters.
-- Mesilla Fire Department website: www.mesillafire.com
-- Town of Mesilla website: www.mesillanm.gov/government/
Copyright 2013 - Las Cruces Sun-News, N.M.
