PLEASE JOIN US ! VOLUNTEERS NEEDED !
OVERVIEW OF DIXON VFD/EMS:
Our core values are Service, Integrity and Respect. Respect for each other and respect for our community.
Dixon Volunteer Fire Department & Emergency Medical Services (Dixon VFD/EMS) is an all-volunteer community organization that serves the people of the lower Rio Embudo Valley (Dixon, Embudo, Embudo Station, Rinconada, La Bolsa, Apodaca, Montecito & Cañoncito). Through longstanding relationships, we work with neighboring communities including Ojo Sarco, Peñasco, Picuris Pueblo, Velarde, Alcalde and Chamita to fight fires and respond to local disasters. Our Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) respond to over 150 emergency 9-1-1 medical calls each year including motor vehicle accidents on New Mexico State Highway 68. Our Firefighters answer about 25 calls each year to home fires and to frequent brushfires and bosque fires that threaten the community. We provide traffic control when big rocks fall onto NM 68 and backcountry search & rescue (including cats) throughout the area.
Dixon VFD/EMS also provides other community services. We have trained over 200 local citizens in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), and we have placed Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) in three strategic public locations in town. Dixon EMS regularly holds Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) certification courses for volunteers throughout the region. Through our affiliation with the American Red Cross, we have distributed smoke detectors in many homes in the region. Dixon EMS recently conducted a COVID-19 testing event for the community when there were few opportunities for coronavirus testing in rural Rio Arriba County (Montgomery, 2020). Dixon VFD/EMS hosts the annual Dixon VFD Aaron Griego Summer Youth Cadet Week for local young people ages 10 – 18 years.
Dixon VFD/EMS volunteers enjoys providing opportunities for community-wide social interaction including our annual Pancake Breakfast, our Fourth of July Station cookout and more.
DIXON VFD/EMS TODAY:
The Dixon Fire District includes communities along the lower Rio Embudo (Dixon, Apodaca, Montecito & Cañoncito) and along the Rio Grande (Embudo Station, Embudo, Rinconada & La Bolsa) (http://www.rio-arriba.org/pdf/departments_and_divisions/12/dixonfd.pdf). Dixon VFD/EMS is under the jurisdiction of Rio Arriba County Fire & Emergency Services and the New Mexico State Fire Marshal’s Office. We receive financial and logistical support through these entities and through the New Mexico EMS Bureau of the NM Department of Health. Training support is provided by the New Mexico Firefighters’ Training Academy in Socorro and the UNM New Mexico EMS Academy. Dixon VFD/EMS has two Fire Stations. Dixon Fire Station 1 is located at 183A New Mexico State Highway 75 (https://goo.gl/maps/f8G6gJwJky2ovQKZ9) in Dixon, and Dixon Fire Station 2 is located at 2247 New Mexico State Highway 68 (https://goo.gl/maps/xCmcmnbXotZALB7s8) in Rinconada. Historically, two Fire Stations were necessary because Dixon was occasionally cut off from Embudo and Rinconada by flash flooding of the Arroyo de la Mina, preventing responses from Dixon Station 1. This arrangement is still advantageous because the Dixon Fire District consists of two intersecting narrow bands, one extending along the Rio Embudo (more easily served by Station 1) and one extending along the Rio Grande (more easily served by Station 2).
Dixon Station 1 was built in 2003 and expanded in 2018. It has 5 vehicle bays that house two Fire Engine (a fire apparatus that specializes in pumping large volumes of water at high pressure), one Fire Tender (a fire apparatus for carrying large volumes of water), one Brush Truck (a vehicle that specializes in fighting brush fires), one Support Vehicle (a truck that carries vehicle extrication and traffic control gear) and a fully-equipped ambulance. Station 1 has a large classroom with advanced audiovisual capabilities for instruction and video conferencing. Station 1 has a fully-equipped fitness center with aerobic machines and weight training equipment. Dixon Station 1 has a rooftop array of photovoltaic panels connected to storage batteries that can provide the Station with electric power during outages. Dixon Station 2 has two vehicle bays and houses one Fire Engine and one Fire Tender.
All emergency calls for Dixon VFD/EMS services are initiated and coordinated by Rio Arriba (RA) Central Dispatch, the Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) for all 9-1-1 calls in the County.
Dixon VFD/EMS personnel communicate with RA Central Dispatch and each other through 2-way VHF radios and via a cellphone app. There are two VHF radio repeaters located on the ridgetop between Dixon and Rinconada that allow for relatively reliable radio communications in this geographically challenging region. RA Central Dispatch provides us with access to dispatch information, mutual aid assistance, law enforcement and medical air transport services. Dixon VFD/EMS is a dedicated group of community volunteers who respond to calls whenever they are available. We have no call schedule, but between 4 and 10 volunteers respond to every call. In the past 5 years, Dixon VFD/EMS has responded to every 9-1-1 call in our District and always on the first page-out. Dixon EMS communicates with local hospitals (Presbyterian Española Hospital & Taos Holy Cross Hospital) via a statewide UHF EMSCOMM radio on Dixon Rescue 3.
Dixon Fire
Dixon VFD provides timely responses to brush fires, bosque fires, car fires and structure fires within the Dixon Fire District. We respond to approximately 20 significant fires each year. We frequently provide mutual aid to adjacent Fire Districts, especially Ojo Sarco, Peñasco, Picuris Pueblo, Chamisal, Velarde, Alcalde, and Chamita. We are available for mutual aid throughout Rio Arriba and Taos Counties. We receive mutual aid support from these entities and from the U.S. Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service.
Dixon VFD has three Type 1 Fire Engines, two Fire Tenders and one Brush Truck. The Fire Engines are outfitted with Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) for firefighters who might be exposed to smoke and/or toxic fumes. Because no structure in the Dixon Fire District is over two stories tall, we have no urgent need for a Ladder Truck, but one is available to us through mutual aid with the nearby Agua Sana Fire Department. Dixon has 12 fire hydrants along NM 75 in Dixon and 8 fire hydrants along NM 580 in Montecito / Cañoncito. Dixon VFD currently holds an ISO Class 5/5Y rating. ISO is a company (Verisk) that serves the private insurance industry by rating fire departments based upon several criteria including water supplies, firefighting apparatus, personnel and training (Verisk, 2020). An ISO Class 5 rating is considered a good rating for an all-volunteer service in a remote rural area. It reflects the careful attention that has been paid over the years to developing water supplies, to acquiring and maintaining quality firefighting apparatuses, and to recruiting and training volunteers. In addition to accessing water through hydrants, we are also able to pump water directly out of the rivers (Rio Grande & Rio Embudo) and the many acequias in the area. Neighboring Fire Districts generally lack hydrants and often call upon Dixon VFD to provide water by dispatching our two Fire Tenders. Dixon VFD personnel train frequently in nursing Fire Engines from Tenders and in running water shuttles as part of mutual aid. Recently Dixon VFD was recognized by the Director of New Mexico Historic Sites for our role, along with numerous other regional fire departments, in saving the Los Luceros Historic Site from destruction in a large bosque fire (Moore, 2020). In that incident, a Dixon Fire Tender ran water shuttles for Fire Engines and the Dixon Brush Truck extinguished spot fires in the willow thickets along the Rio Grande. It is our Standard Operating Guideline that all Dixon fire apparatuses should respond to any significant fire and that all personnel should arrive in appropriate personal protective equipment (full turnout gear).
Dixon EMS
Dixon EMS is currently staffed by two EMT-Paramedics, three EMT-Intermediates, two EMT-Basics and seven Emergency Medical Responders (EMS-FR). Many of these providers received their training through courses and continuing education programs provided by Dixon EMS (in affiliation with the UNM EMS Academy and UNM-Taos). The Rescue Chief, Steven Jenison NRP, is a licensed Paramedic, retired public health physician and nationally certified EMS educator. Dixon EMS responds to approximately 150 medical 9-1-1 calls each year including motor vehicle accidents, cardiac arrests, respiratory failure, drownings, seizures, childbirth and opioid overdoses. Rio Arriba County has one of the highest opioid (heroin & fentanyl) overdose rates of any county in the U.S., a problem that goes back decades. The section of NM State Highway 68 that runs through the lower Rio Grande Gorge within the Dixon Fire District is infamous for high-speed head-on MVAs, single vehicle rollovers and collisions with fallen boulders. Dixon EMS has a full complement of hydraulic and manual vehicle extrication tools, and six of our members are certified in vehicle extrication. Because of staffing issues with law enforcement entities, Dixon VFD is usually responsible for traffic control throughout these incidents. In the past 5 years, Dixon EMS responded to all medical 9-1-1 calls on the first page-out. An average of four licensed EMTs responded to each call in an average of 11 – 15 minutes from page-out to arrival on scene. New Mexico ambulance regulations do not allow volunteer ambulance services to complete transport of patients to the Emergency Room. Because of the long response times of Presbyterian Española Hospital EMS ambulances, Dixon EMS often initiates transport and intercepts them at an arranged location. All EMS calls are entered into a statewide EMS electronic medical record (ImageTrendElite), preferably within 24 hours of completion.
Dixon VFD/EMS Auxiliary Member
If you don’t want to be a firefighter or an EMT but still want to contribute to the work of Dixon VFD/EMS, there are plenty of ways that you can be of service to the Department and the community. We welcome people with diverse skills like vehicle maintenance, website management, strategic planning, events planning, events management, fundraising, information technology skills, groundskeeping, custodial services, support counseling, group facilitation and skills we haven’t even thought of.
Dealing with Stress
Firefighting and emergency medical responses are inherently stressful activities. Dixon VFD/EMS addresses the stress that its members inevitably experience in these situations by 1) holding After Action Reviews of all difficult calls that include an opportunity to discuss responders’ emotional reactions and lingering questions; 2) having Professional Counselors who are available for private and confidential counseling of Members; and, 3) providing financial support to any Member who might benefit from outside professional counseling.
Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion
Dixon VFD/EMS strives to provide a workplace free from discrimination or bias based upon gender, age, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, or religious convictions. This diversity is reflected in the makeup of our Membership. We make reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities.
OUR LEADERSHIP
Dixon VFD/EMS Officers are elected every two years by the membership. Current Officers are:
District Chief: Steven Jenison, EMT-Paramedic, AS-Fire Science
Asst. Chief / Safety Officer: Adam Mackie, EMT-Basic
Rescue Chief: Amanda Sena, EMT-Intermediate, Firefighter I
Deputy Rescue Chief: Kyle Kline, EMT-Basic
Fire Captain: Ron Monsour, EMT-First Responder, Firefighter 2
Communications Officer: Mick Oram
Secretary/Treasurer: Eloise Martinez, EMT-First Responder
OUR MEMBERSHIP
Dixon VFD/EMS currently has 20 active Members, including 14 who are licensed EMTs. Our Members bring to the Department a broad range of experience from professional firefighting, military service, communications, information technology and medical care professions. We have no call schedule, but our Members carry Department two-way radios when they are in town. In almost all cases, between 4 and 10 Members respond to every call.
ELIGIBILITY FOR MEMBERSHIP
The process to apply for membership in Dixon VFD/EMS is defined in the 2020 Revision of the Fire & EMS District Bylaws of the Rio Arriba County Fire & Emergency Services department (http://www.rio-arriba.org/pdf/departments_and_divisions/fire_marshal/bylaws.pdf). The initial application form is available here. Initial application must be made in-person to the Fire & Emergency Services Office in Española in the Rio Arriba County building at 1122 Industrial Park Road. The applicant must show a valid NM driver’s license and documentation of current residence address. That office will conduct a criminal background check. If the applicant passes the background check, the application will be forwarded to Dixon VFD/EMS for consideration by the membership. Eligibility for full membership includes:
1) Age of 18 years or older (licensed EMS providers can join at age 16 as EMS personnel)
2) Successfully passing a Criminal Background Check administered by the New Mexico Public Safety Department that includes fingerprinting
3) The applicant must reside within the Dixon Fire District or within a reasonable driving distance in a contiguous fire district.
4) An application forwarded to the Dixon VFD District Chief shall be presented to the full membership for consideration. The applicant shall have an opportunity to present prior to a vote by the membership.
Dixon VFD/EMS expects new members to complete the following within a reasonable period of time:
1) Obtaining a New Mexico CDL Class E Driver’s License (just requires application at a New Mexico MVD office).
2) Obtaining certification in the Incident Command System of the National Incident Management System (ICS 100, 200, 700 & 800).
3) A document from the candidate’s primary care medical provider certifying that the candidate’s aerobic condition, strength and overall medical status are sufficient to meet the physical demands of volunteer firefighting. Although we encourage our volunteers to attain and maintain good physical conditioning, we do not require a level of performance defined in NFPA 1582 for professional firefighters.
Dixon VFD/EMS will cover all out-of-pocket expenses incurred by applicants in pursuit of membership.
Individuals recruited into Dixon VFD must pass a one-year probationary period that includes attendance at 12 monthly recruit trainings. Recruits can start responding to calls after six months as observers.
Dixon VFD/EMS will provide complete financial support (including tuition, travel/lodging expenses and licensing expenses) to our Members who pursue firefighter training through the New Mexico Firefighters’ Training Academy and EMS training through the UNM EMS Academy. Recruits are expected to obtain certification in wildland firefighting (I-100, S-130/190, L-180) during their probationary period.
EXPECTATIONS OF MEMBERS
Active Members of Dixon VFD are expected to attend at least 50 percent of all meetings, trainings and calls. There are four monthly meetings: 1) General Business Meeting – 1st Wednesday evening at 1900h; 2) Vehicle Maintenance Meeting – 2nd Wednesday evening at 1900h; 3) Monthly Membership Training – 2nd Sunday at 1300h; and, 4) Recruit Training – 3rd Wednesday at 1830h.
BENEFITS OF MEMBERSHIP
Active Members who participate in at least 50 percent of Department activities will receive a yearly credit toward a retirement benefit with the New Mexico Public Employee Retirement Association. Upon receiving 10 yearly credits, the Member will receive a monthly benefit from PERA of $120 for life.
Dixon VFD/EMS members have access to the Station 1 fitness center with its full complement of aerobic and weight training equipment.
CONTACT:
If you are interested in joining us, please send us an email at dixonnmvfd@gmail.com or leave us a voicemail message at (505) 579-4474.
References:
Bryant, A. (June 20, 2017). What do the NFPA 1582 physical fitness requirements say? FireRescue1: https://www.firerescue1.com/health/articles/what-do-the-nfpa-1582-physical-fitnessrequirements-say-O7AnVpUgU22nrYIA/
FEMA, Emergency Management Institute (2020). ICS Resource Center, Training Program. https://training.fema.gov/emiweb/is/icsresource/trainingmaterials/
Montgomery, M. (April 9, 2020). Five test positive for coronavirus in Rio Arriba. Rio Grande SUN: http://www.riograndesun.com/news/five-test-positive-for-coronavirus-in-rioarriba/article_2b02c4f8-74ff-11ea-a89c-67568024b589.html
Moore, P. (May 7, 2020). First responders save a historic site. Santa Fe New Mexican: https://www.santafenewmexican.com/opinion/my_view/first-responders-save-a-historicsite/article_06d1930c-8b11-11ea-831b-9f5234477d8b.html?utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook&utm_campaign=usershare&fbclid=IwAR2KfTQ2hUkxUPzJAvCKUGBgpbH4DfnDB1kMADmla-2pq27SOOlyjCGgQO0
Verisk (2020). ISO mitigation: working together for safer communities. https://www.isomitigation.com