Cuba residents dialing 911 will now get Sandoval County paramedics and firefighters on scene, not a local ambulance crew, after the county took over emergency response for the area July 1.
Sandoval County Fire and Rescue (SCFR) confirmed the change covers the Village of Cuba and northwestern Sandoval County, including parts of the Navajo Nation and Jicarilla Apache Nation, according to a county press release. Local volunteer stations will still respond alongside SCFR crews.
The shift fills a gap left by the closure of Cuba Emergency Medical Services, which served the area for nearly 40 years, Fire Chief Christopher Bagley said in the release. SCFR now offers round-the-clock Advanced Life Support ambulance service, fire suppression, extrication and technical rescue. PMS Healthcare’s Cuba clinic continues offering primary care separately.
More details:
- Funding comes partly through a Medicaid program.
- An intergovernmental agreement with the Jicarilla Apache Nation supports staffing.
- A mutual aid pact with Rio Arriba County backs up calls when needed.
- Crews currently work out of La Jara Fire Station; a permanent station at the Sandoval County Fairgrounds opens later this summer.