Agua Fria Volunteer Fire District
In late summer of 1991 a group of eight residents formed the Agua Fria Fire & Rescue Department. They operated the first year with no funding or equipment other than donations. SFFD Chief Frank DiLuzio gave Agua Fria a 1974 American LaFrance fire truck. In September 1992 the Charter was passed for the Agua Fria Fire District. The first year calls of 638 grew in just four years to 838 runs. Today the Agua Fria District call volume averages almost 1000 calls a year. Santa Fe County gave land off of County road 62 for the construction of the main station. In 1996 land was donated in the Las Campañas area for a sub-station and the La Tierra substation was constructed. Approximately 25% of the calls are out of the sub-station area.
Regional Chief Velarde served 23 years with Santa Fe County Fire Department starting his volunteer firefighting career in 1980 with La Cienega Volunteer Fire Dept. Starting out as a firefighter and moving up the ranks to District Chief for La Cienega Volunteer Fire Department for 18 yrs and District Chief for Agua Fria Volunteer Fire Department for 3 years, he served as the Vice President of the SF County Fire Chiefs Association. Chief Velarde started his professional firefighting career with the City of Santa Fe Fire Dept in 1987 as a Firefighter Trainee, and promoted throughout his career as Firefighter EMT-B, Fire Engineer, Fire Captain, Battalion Chief and retired as Assistant Fire Chief in 2009. Returning to the County as the Regional Volunteer Chief of the Western Region in 2009, Chief Velarde responds to emergency and non emergency calls in the Agua Fria, La Cienega, Turquoise Trail and Madrid Fire Districts. Insurance Services Organization (ISO) Rating for the Agua Fria Volunteer Fire District (5/7/10):ISO collects information (such as nearest water supply, fire station, station staffing, number of personnel, number and type of fire trucks, pumping capacity, emergency communications, etc.) on municipal fire-protection efforts in communities throughout the United States. Based on the information a numerical rating is given to the area which is used by insurance companies to determine premiums. ISO considers three classes:
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The Agua Fria Fire District is situated in west central Santa Fe County and is responsible for providing fire and emergency medical services to the communities of Agua Fria, Las Campanas, La Tierra and Fin del Sendero. Its two stations are located at #58 SFC Rd. 62 and #3 Arroyo Calabasas Rd. Agua Fria District continues to grow with many residences in the Las Campanas area in excess of 5000 sq. ft. The district assists and receives aid from other agencies including the City of Santa Fe, US Forest Service, NM State Forestry and the other Santa Fe County Districts.
