Assistance to Firefighters Grant will cover tuition and overtime for 15 firefighters enrolled in DACC program

Organ Mountain News report

LAS CRUCES – The Las Cruces Fire Department will receive $456,181 in federal funding to expand paramedic training for local firefighters, according to a grant award issued through the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Assistance to Firefighters Grant program.

The grant was awarded with support from U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez, whose office confirmed the funding Tuesday.

The funding will support 15 firefighters pursuing paramedic certification through Doña Ana Community College by covering tuition and overtime costs while firefighters attend training.

Fire department officials said three firefighters currently enrolled in the DACC paramedic program will be supported through the grant, with an additional cohort of 12 firefighters expected to begin training early next year.

The Assistance to Firefighters Grant program is one of the primary federal funding sources for local fire departments nationwide, providing competitive awards for staffing, training and equipment intended to improve emergency response and public safety.

Local officials say the additional paramedic training will help strengthen emergency medical response capacity in Las Cruces and across southern New Mexico as demand for advanced pre-hospital medical care continues to grow.

“This funding will save lives and support the brave first responders who show up for our families every day,” Vasquez said in a statement announcing the grant. “I worked to bring this money home because southern New Mexicans deserve nothing but the best, including well-trained emergency medical teams that can respond quickly when every second counts.”

The grant was administered by FEMA as part of its annual AFG awards, which are designed to help departments meet national standards for emergency services and emergency preparedness.