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Cadets Graduate from the Mesilla Fire Academy, 3-4-07, Seven cadets graduated from the Mesilla Fire Academy to begin work as probationary firefighters for the  Town of Mesilla. The Fire Academy consisted of 20 weeks of focusing primarily on Firefighter I training. Physical fitness was held every Monday Wednesday and Friday morning at 5:30am until 7:30am. The workout consisted of various exercises lead by instructors John Casal and Edward Vasquez. Classes were held every Monday night from 6:00pm to 10pm by various instructors. The classes consisted of basics of Firefighter I, hazmat awareness, wildland and basic first aid. All cadets successfully completed the necessary training to begin their work and probationary members. The Mesilla Fire Department would like to thank them for their hard work as well as the instructors that contributed to their success.
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Roll Over on I-10 Requiring Extrication, 9-20-06 - Firefighters from Mesilla and South Valley  responded to a roll over on Interstate 10. A Jeep Liberty traveling westbound towards Deming tried to avoid a collision with another vehicle and swerved into the median. Upon reentering the traffic lanes, lost control and rolled several times and came to rest on the north side of the interstate. On arrival, firefighters setup extrication tools and had to remove the driver side door. The driver was flown to Thomason Medical Center in El Paso, due to the mechanism of injury. The accident claimed the life of a 12 year child, who was deceased upon the arrival of the ambulance. No other injuries were reported and the cause of the accident is still under investigation.
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MFD Responds to Hatch Flooding, 8-15-06 - Members of the Mesilla Fire Department responded to the Village of Hatch to assist with major flooding problems. The Placitas Arroyo failed causing widespread flooding through most of Hatch and destroying an apartment complex, several homes and washing out roadways. Mesilla firefighters were tasked with searching the town for victims that may have been trapped in stores and homes. At times water was as deep as five feet in some areas but no firefighters were injured. Currently residents in Hatch are working with FEMA officials to rebuild homes and businesses.
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Chaplain Awarded NM Paramedic of the Year, 7-26-06 - Fire Chaplain Kevin Hoban was awarded with Paramedic of the Year for the state of New Mexico, According to State EMS Conference, “When you ask Kevin Hoban how he started in EMS, he always replies, "I was born in a log ambulance...". This statement is pretty indicative of Kevin's sense of humor. He started as a volunteer firefighter in Chaparral, New Mexico in 1976. He was dating the fire chief's d aughter and thought this would give him an "in with the family". He took a CPR course and was hooked. He then took an EMT course in 1977 and one of his fellow peers was Randy Kuykendall and the instructor was Devil Bill Adams. This led to a short career of 2 years with Associated Ambulance Service of Las Cruces. In 1979 he went to work for El Paso EMS as one of the first of 44 employees to start the organization. Kevin has worked many facets of EMS including pre-hospital field care, management /supervision, tactical EMS, director of the Mesilla Valley Dispatch Authority and then back into the field in 1998. Kevin keeps his interest in EMS by diversifying his activities. He was a member of the NM CISM Team for 10 years, has been involved with Dona Ana County SAR since 1991 and has serve on TX1 DMAT since before the team was give DMAT status. Last summer he responded to hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma. One of his most recent developments has been volunteering to serve as a Chaplain for many EMS agencies in Southern New Mexico. This newest activity allows him to listen and not judge, to provide guidance but not command and appears to be a service to EMS that is not readily available on a day-to-day basis”. Congratulations Kevin!
Click here to view comments from Kevin
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 Long Night for Firefighters, 7-14-06 - Mesilla Firefighters responded into Fairacres for Automatic Aid on a reported structure fire. Engine 31 was second on scene and was assigned to attack teams. Reports from the Fairacres Engine 1202 upon arrival was a fully involved mobile home with exposures to a large propane tank supplying the home. Due to the extent of the fire the propane tank had vented and firefighters went defensive. There were no reported injuries and the cause of the fire is under investigation at this time.
Click here to view photos
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MFD To Begin A Paid Program, 6-30-06 - Starting July 2nd, the Mesilla Fire Department will begin a new program that was approved by the Town Trustees for the new fiscal year. All current certified (EMT, Firefighter 1) volunteers will now be Part-time Firefighters. The Town approved shifts 5 days a week (Sun, Mon, Wed, Fri, Sat) from 9am-5pm with two firefighters. The firefighters will be paid for their shifts, trainings and any after hour calls. The department will also keep in place the volunteer program renamed reserves to serve as a training & hiring program for the part-time program. Any questions feel free to call the station a 523-1311.
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 Structure Fire In South Valley, 5-21-06 - Mesilla Fire Department responded to a reported structure fire in the mutual aid district South Valley around 6:00pm. The cause of the fire is unknown, but it is estimated to have started in a shed located next to the trailer. Upon arrival units found fire in the shed and in a bedroom of the trailer. The fire inside the shed and trailer were quickly extinguished. Firefighters then performed overhaul and began clearing the scene reporting back the their districts. No injuries were reported from the fire.
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 Special Olympics Torch Run, 5-16-06 - A torch was carried by Police and Code Enforcement Officers from Las Cruces, to the Town of Mesilla from Sunland Park to Las Cruces, NM. The torch run was for the Special Olympics to be held in the Las Cruces Area. Mesilla Fire Fighters also assisted in the torch run, picking up the torch on the corner of University and Highway 28 to run it through Mesilla’s District. It was then handed off to Police Officers from the City of Las Cruces. The Special Olympics are held every year and host bowling and basketball competitions. The event brought in more than 1,000 visitors to the Mesilla Valley.
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 Fire Safety Trailer Kickoff, 4-26-06 - The Mesilla Fire Department hosted a kickoff barbecue to show the new Fire Prevention Safety Trailer. The trailer is designed to be used at schools in the Dona Ana County as well as surrounding counties. Upon entering the trailer, students will see a similar layout to a kitchen and a bedroom. After watching a safety video, the trailer will then be smoked out to demonstrate the confusion and reduced visibility due to a fire. After the trailer is full of smoke they will be properly shown how to exit a building, such as checking doors for heat, using exit signs, etc... The backside of the trailer has been painted to demonstrate a house fire reinforcing the concept of “Get Out, Stay Out”. When the trailer is not being used for fire prevention, it will also double as a command trailer during special events, or emergency situations that may require its use.
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 Former Chief Laid To Rest, 4-12-06 - Former Fire Chief Aurelio Beltran was 80 when he passed away on April 7, 2006 at Mountain View with his family at his side. Chief Beltran served with the Mesilla Fire Department from 1956 until 1978. He was one of the original 12 firefighters for Mesilla and was instrumental in helping get the department started. In 1960, along with others, secured Mesilla's first fire truck, "Old Betsy," which resides in the children's park next to the fire station today. He, along with the rest of the department, built the first fire station next to Valley Hardware on HWY 28 in the town. The apparatus had previously been stored in what is now The Bean for a rent of $50 a month. The firefighters worked on weekends and evenings while their wives and mothers served meals until the station was complete. Eventually Aurelio Beltran obtained the rank of Chief and served as such until leaving the department in 1978. Although not active with the department he still maintained his support and interest in the department and often visited the station or talked with firefighters he would see in the town. Unfortunately his declining health stopped those visit earlier this year.
Click Here to view pictures and play video
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Multiple Car Accident on Interstate 10, 4-2-06 - Mesilla and Dona Ana Fire Department responded as mutual aid with Fairacres Fire Department to a multiple vehicle accident on Interstate 10. The accident started with a Economy Van traveling westbound on Interstate 10 lost control and rolled across westbound traffic causing the traffic to slow to a stop. While slowing down a semi-truck was unable to slow down in time, hitting a motor home towing a Saturn knocking it on its side, leaving the vehicle in tow in the middle of the interstate. Also involved was an Audi TT that was struck by the semi along the right side. The semi came to rest in the middle of the Interstate. The only injury was a head injury sustained by the driver of the semi-truck. He was transported by Southwest Ambulance to Mountain View Hospital to be flown by Southwest Med Evac to Thomason Hospital in El Paso, TX.
 The saturn being towed by the motor home came to a stop in the middle of the interstate after the motor home and the vehicle in tow were struck by a semi-truck while they were slowing down for a van which rolled in front of them. Click Here to view more photos.
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Vehicle Fire, 3-11-06 - Mesilla Fire Department responded to vehicle fire on Calle De Parian at approximately 11:40 am. The fire was discovered to be a result of an electric malfunction. Firefighters arrived on the scene to find a partially involved vehicle. Only the engine compartment sustained damage from the fire. The fire was quickly extinguished. After opening the engine compartment, firefighters performed overhaul to prevent any reoccurring fires. No injuries were reported from this fire.
 Captain Eric Palma and firefighter John Casal attempt to break the hood latch to open the engine compartment to check for any hot spots and perform overhaul on the vehicle.
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Semi Fire on Interstate 10, 1-31-06 - Mesilla Fire Department Engine 3101 and Brush 3101 responded as mutual aid for Mesquite Fire Department for a Tractor Trailer Fire on Interstate 10. Upon arrival, firefighters encountered a fully involved Cab. The attack team quickly extinguished the fire and began performing overhaul. After overhaul was complete, firefighters looked for any other hotspots and begin packing up their equipment to return to district. Firefighters were on scene for approximately 30 minutes and no injuries were sustained during this emergency.
 Asst. Chief Harry Evans and Captain Kris Williams perform the initial attack of the fire after arriving on scene with other fire crews en-route.
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FF Graduates from Rio Rancho Fire Academy, 11-18-05 - Firefighter Aaron McDevitt graduated from the third Rio Rancho Fire Academy today at 3:00 PM. There were a total of seven cadets that graduated alongside Aaron to begin work the following week. This was after 13 weeks of  strenuous training and exercise. Upon entering the academy all cadets had their Firefighter 1 and EMT-Basic training. After completing the academy, all the cadets received their Firefighter 2 certification as well as 17 hours of college credit. Aaron was a member of the Mesilla Fire Department for almost 4 years, before he accepted the firefighter position at Rio Rancho. The Mesilla Fire Department would like to congratulate Aaron and the other cadets in completing the academy.
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 House Donated To Mesilla Fire Department, 11-2-05 - Mesilla Fire Department took full advantage of an adobe residence donated to the fire department. Over the course of three weeks, MFD personnel practiced ventilation, forcible entry, search-and-rescue, offensive, and defensive tactics. To cap off the trainings, the home was finally burnt down so that it could be razed to make room for a new residence.
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 Mesilla Fire Chaplain Returns From Assisting Disaster Victims, 10-2-05 - Fire Chaplain Kevin Hoban returned home today after spending four weeks in New Orleans assisting disaster victims affected by Hurricane Katrina. Kevin was dispatched on August 29th and returned October 2nd. He was sent out as part of the Texas DMAT 1 Team. He spent most of his time in New Orleans at the airport assisting victims as they were flown in on military aircraft. After several weeks in New Orleans he was then relocated with his response team to San Antonio to further assist in the relief efforts.
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 Flooding Keeps Firefighters Busy, 9-6-05 - Mesilla and Fairacres Fire Departments were kept busy all night after a severe thunderstorm poured as much as four inches in 2 hours. The rain caused flooding in many areas of Dona Ana County. The rain began about 6:00pm with firefighters responding to flooding about 6:30. Fire crews jumped from scene to scene for eight hours trying to stop flooding and helping where there assistance was needed.
Photo taken by Sun-News Vladimir Chaloupka
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Fatal Accident on Interstate 10, 7-3-05 - Fairacres, Dona Ana and Mesilla Fire Departments responded to an accident on interstate 10 which claimed the life of a 3  year old child. The accident also left the mother traveling in the front passenger seat in critical condition. She was flown out by Southwest Medevac to Thomason Medical Center in El Paso, TX. The accident was caused when the rear tire on a 1993 Ford Explorer exploded causing the vehicle to swerve and roll several times. The father and three other children in the car sustained minor injuries but were transported by Southwest Ambulance to Mountain View Medical Center for treatment.
Photo provided by Las Cruces Sun News
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 MVA required Southwest Medevac, 6-24-05 - Firefighters responded to a motor vehicle accident at Veterans Park in Mesilla. The vehicle had ran off the road going around a corner and collided with a brick wall protecting a gas regulator station. Firefighters arrived on scene to find an Arizona man in level 1 trauma, which required him to be flown by Southwest Medevac to Thomason in El Paso, TX. There is an ongoing investigation to discover the cause of the accident.
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 Water day at Mesilla Elementary School, 5-24-05 - Firefighters spent the afternoon at the Mesilla Elementary School playing with the children. The firefighters brought out the deluge gun and sprayed any kids that felt like getting wet. The children were using the deluge gun to shoot off T-shirts, volleyballs and other various objects while others were just enjoying a cool breeze in the hot summer day.
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Mobile Home Saved, 5-10-05 - Mesilla Fire Department responded just before noon to a reported structure fire in a mobile home as mutual aid for Fairacres Fire Department. Engine 31, first on scene, reported light smoke coming from vents in the roof. Further investigation found a water heater that had overheated and ignited the heater closet walls. Flames extended into the trusses above the ceiling, but were quickly extinguished after pulling ceiling tiles in the kitchen. A ventilation team removed a section of the roof with a cut off saw to relieve smoky conditions inside the home. A handicapped resident, who was not injured, was removed prior to operation commencing. Engine 31 was assisted by Brush 31, Rescue 31, Tanker 1201, and Engine 1201.
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Structure Fire Destroys Garage, 5-4-05 - A structure fire requiring a response from Mesilla, six Dona Ana County Fire Departments and the City of Las Cruces Fire Department destroyed an attached garage and workshops. The fire was restricted to the attached building and deemed accidental by the Dona Ana County Fire Marshall’s Office. Damage was estimated at $190,000. No injuries to civilians or fire fighters were reported. The fire took roughly one and a half hours to control and another two and a half hours of scene time to clean up.
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HAZMAT Accident Closes Interstate 10, 5-4-05 - A semi hauling tandem trailers containing flammable liquids and explosives for mining operations rolled on westbound Interstate 10 just after 2:00 PM, stopping traffic for more than 13 hours. The driver of the truck was transported to Memorial Medical Center and later released. A half-mile perimeter around the accident was established and maintained throughout the incident. The incident was mitigated without injuries. Responding resources included Mesilla Fire Department,  Fairacres Fire Department, Las Cruces Fire Department, New Mexico State University Fire Department, South Valley Fire Department, bomb squads from Dona Ana County, White Sands Missile Range, Fort Bliss, and New Mexico State Police. Dona Ana Sheriff’s Department and New Mexico State Police provided law enforcement support. Backed-up traffic caused a secondary accident, claiming the life of a passenger.
Photo provided by Las Cruces Sun News
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FF Graduates From Las Cruces Fire Academy, 4-15-05 - Mesilla Fire Department Volunteer Captain Nicky Palma graduated from the Las Cruces Fire Departments 23rd Fire Academy after 4 months of intense training. The academy consisted of 12 cadets that would become know as the Dirty Dozen. During the academy firefighters were required to attend physical training at 6:00 in the morning consisting of running, sit ups, push ups and other various forms of rigorous workouts. After PT, the cadets had a chance to go home and clean up. They would then return to Las Cruces Fire Station One for eight hours of class with a test almost every other day. The Fire Academy cadets graduated on April 15th 2005. Nicky plans on spending the rest of his firefighting career with the Las Cruces Fire Department. Mesilla Fire Department would like to congratulate Nicky and the other 11 members who graduated from the Las Cruces Fire Academy.
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Structure Fire & Gun Shot Wound, 4-2-05 - Mesilla, Dona Ana South Valley, and NMSU Fire Departments responded to a structure fire at approximately 3:50am as mutual aid for Fairacres Fire Department. While en-route Central Dispatch advised the scene was unsecured due to gun shots fired. After the scene was cleared by the Dona Ana Sheriffs Office (DASO), Firefighters arrived on scene to find a fully involved structure fire and a gun shot wound (GSW) victim. Southwest Ambulance provided emergency assistance to the GSW until Southwest Medevac arrived on scene to fly the victim to the trauma hospital in El Paso, TX. The cause of the fire is still under investigation by the County Fire Marshall's Office, DASO, Las Cruces Fire Department  and the State Fire Marshall’s office. The fire which was visible from several miles away destroyed the house along with two vehicles parked in the driveway and one in the garage. While attacking the blaze firefighters also encountered exploding bullets and a propane tank to only make the situation more dangerous. No known injuries were caused to emergency personnel due to the fire. Firefighters cleared the scene at approximately 11:00 am after completing overhaul and servicing their apparatus. Pictures
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FEMA Grant Awarded to MFD, 1-21-05 - Mesilla Fire Department received word Friday that they will be awarded the FEMA Grant they applied for in early March. The total of $51,502 awarded will be used for Fire Prevention. With this grant the Fire Department will purchase a 35’ Fire Prevention Trailer equipped with the necessary Fire Prevention supplies. Also included in the grant is a part time Fire Prevention Coordinator that will work 10 hours a week for one year. The trailer is planned to arrive in approximately 8 to 11 months. The Fire Prevention Coordinator will begin work within the next month. Click Here For Las Cruces Sun News Article.
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Long Night For Firefighters, 12-9-04 - Mesilla Fire Dept responded to a structure fire as mutual aid in South Valley at approximately 2:00 am. Other departments such as Las Alturas & Fairacres assisted in battling the blaze. The cause of the fire is still under investigation at this time. The attack of the fire was difficult for firefighters because it was secluded in the attic of the house. Firefighters spent approximately six hours fighting fire, conducting overhaul and cleaning up back at the station afterwards. There were no injuries due to the fire.
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Veterans Day Memorial, 11/11/04 - Members Chad Zecha, Jim Herrera, Eric Palma, Scott Rhoades, LeeAnne Crossland and John Casal gathered with dozens of Citizens and Veterans from Mesilla and Las Cruces at the Parque de Los Veteranos to honor Mesilla residents who have served or are serving in the armed forces. A dedication wall listing over 600 names of Mesilla residents was unveiled by Town officials at the memorial. Mesilla Fire Dept. would like to thank all Veterans and Military Forces for their contribution to our great Nation.
 Firefighters stand along side each other at the Parque de Los Veteranos to honor War Veterans.
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Firefighters Kept Busy With Interstate Rollover, 10/5/04 - Seven firefighters responded to a rollover on Interstate 10 a s automatic aid with Fairacres Fire Department. A Jeep traveling eastbound on Interstate 10 lost control in the rain and rolled for approximately 200 ft. Southwest Med Evac was dispatched to the scene but was unable to land due to extreme weather. A landing zone was established on I-10 at the Border Patrol Check Point, approximately six miles from the scene. The single passenger in the Jeep was flown to R.E. Thomason General Hospital in El Paso, TX. No other injuries were reported from this accident.
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 Rollover Sends One to Trauma Center, 9/14/04 - A small SUV driving westbound on University Ave. rolled onto its driver side and slid for approximately 20 feet. The driver of the vehicle sustained massive trauma to his left upper arm, which is believed to have been hanging out the window. A restrained infant in the rear seat was not injured. The driver was flown to Thomason Hospital’s Trauma Center in El Paso, TX from the scene by Med Evac 1.
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 Annual Fill-the-Boot Drive, 9/3/04-9/5/04 - Mesilla fire fighters spent three days collecting donations for the Muscular Dystrophy Association’s annual Fill-the-Boot campaign for Jerry’s Kids. Fire fighters were able to present a check on Monday, September 6th in the amount of $4,500. A special thanks goes out to Mesilla Elementary School faculty and students for raising almost $200, Shorty’s convenience store, and Andele’s and La Posta Restaurants for their contributions to our event.
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Political Rallies in Dona Ana County Keep Responders on High Alert, 8-26-04 - Democratic Vice President candidate John Edwards and President George W. Bush spent the morning rallying for votes in Dona Ana County. Edwards Spoke in the Mesilla Plaza to a crowd of about 2,000. Mesilla Fire Department was present to provide medical attention during the afternoon rally. On the same day President Bush, accompanied by former NYC Mayor Rudy Giulliani, spoke to a crowd of approximately 10,000 at the NMSU’s Pan American Center.
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Interstate 10 Rollover Claims One Life, 8-4-04 - Mesilla Fire Department was dispatched as mutual aid for South Valley Fire Dept. on a rollover requiring extrication on Interstate 10 south of Las Cruces. A Ford Explorer containing a family of four had rolled multiple times and came to rest upright on the frontage road. A 34 year-old pregnant female was unconscious and trapped in the front passenger seat. Rescue 31 and Utility 31 arrived on scene simultaneously; firefighters removed the passenger door within 5 minutes. The Father and two children were transported for minor injuries. The accident claimed the life of the mother.
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Bus Fire at Christian Elementary School, 6-27-04 - Late in evening firefighters were paged out to a reported bus fire at the Christian Elementary School as mutual aid for South Valley Fire Dept. Upon arrival the bus was fully engulfed threatening other buses in the area. Firefighters from Mesilla, South Valley and NMSU Fire Departments all responded to assist in fighting the fire. After a water source was secured the vehicle fire was extinguished within a couple of minutes. Firefighters returned to quarters approximately 45 minutes after receiving the call. The cause of the fire was unknown.
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Busy Day for Firefighters, 6-22-04 - Firefighters started the day responding to a structure fire as mutual aid for Fairacres Fire Dept. The structure was a trailer home, that was partially engulfed. Within minutes of arriving on scene firefighters had the fire under control and begin a secondary search. During the search firefighters also begin overhaul to extinguish any hotspots that could possibly ignite the structure again. The cause of the fire was unknown and there no injuries related to this fire. Firefighters cleared scene approximately an hour after the page was received. Click here for pictures.
 Firefighters begin a secondary search and overhaul after the initial attack was completed,
only a few minutes
after arriving on scene.
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The Newest Edition to the Fleet, 6-22-04 - A few hours after battling a structure fire, Mesilla Fire Department’s brand new Ford F-550 brush truck was delivered to the station. The brush truck will be first out for EMS calls and brush fires. It will carry all the necessary EMS equipment and tools required for calls. It has a passenger capacity of five, along with a water capacity of 250 gallons. Mesilla Fire Department would like to thank Artesia Fire for all their hard work.
 A representative from Artesia Fire demonstrates to firefighters how to properly use the vehicle.
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 Firefighter Celebrates 10 Years with Mesilla, 6-10-04 - Captain James Herrera spent the evening at a surprise ten year anniversary celebration with members of the Mesilla Fire Department along with their wives and loved ones. Jim was presented with a couple of gag gifts and a miniature statue of a firefighter. Jim’s service in the fire department is greatly appreciated and we look forward to another ten years.
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 A Day of Fun, 5-20-04 - Mesilla firefighters spent a hot afternoon at the Mesilla Elementary School cooling off the students. A portable monitor was set up on the playground for children to play under. The students thought it would be fun to involve some of the firefighters in their water fight.
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Copyright © 2007 Mesilla Fire Dept All Rights Reserved.
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