THE McKINLEY COUNTY FIRE ADMINISTRATION OFFICE

Overall History

Before the establishment of the Office, the existing fire districts were independent, and although they were county owned there was only the local chief to fend for money, equipment and establishment and directly appealed to County Government.  As the Districts grew in number, this became a problem as there was not a central person or office to see to the needs of the volunteers.  Thus, McKinley County Fire Marshal's Office was established 1988 and was seated at Gallup FD Station #1.  The head of the Fire Marshal's office was August Martin who was hired at the inception of the Fire Marshal's Office until 11-96.  On 11-96, Bruce Swingle took over, and left in 04-97.  On 7-28-97 Joseph Rodriguez started his employment with McKinley County as the Fire Marshal and Loss Control/Safety Officer and left employment on 2-6-98.  Mr. Trujillo was then appointed head of the department and the department was renamed “Support Services”.  In 2004 Ms. Bowman was named as Director of Fire/EMS services Administration and Mr. Trujillo was named County Manager.  Over the years, the office relocated several times and through the efforts of Ms. Bowman, Chief Louie Chavez, and local legislators, found a permanent home at 413 Bataan Memorial Dr. which houses the administrative offices, Fleet Shop, several scene support trailers, vehicles and a Fire training tower/building and grounds that are state of the art and rival larger departments. In 2007 the Emergency Manager, Mark Diaz added to the fleet a $370,000 mobile command vehicle from homeland security.  In January 2008 Ms. Bowman transferred to Metro Dispatch and the office was split between Mr. Woolman, Fire Services Coordinator and Mr. Diaz Emergency Manager who had oversight of the EMS sector.  Mr. Hoffman was overseen by Mr. Diaz but worked cohesively with Mr. Woolman.  In November 2008 Mr. Diaz retired, the Emergency Management Office was tended to by the County manager while Mr. Hoffman assisted.  In January 2009 EMS was returned back to the Command of Fire when Mr. Woolman was appointed Chief of Districts.  Mr. Hoffman was placed under Mr. Woolman's command upon request and thus reassembling a proper Fire/EMS command structure and Mr. Hoffman was named Chief of EMS and the Deputy Chief of Districts. 

    Mr. Anthony Dimas was hired as the Emergency Manager and the office separated from the Fire/EMS services and serves under the County Attorney.

General Information

In 1988, McKinley County received $121,000.00 in participation with the State Of New Mexico's Fire Protection Fund. Currently McKinley County is now receiving about $1,200,000.00 (a 100% increase) in Fire Protection Funding which is based on the districts ISO ratings.   In Mr. Martin introduced the 1/4% cent Fire Tax currently assessed in the county, and at it's peak; generated more than $770,000.00 per year that is distributed by the Fire Tax Advisory Board with recommendations from the Fire Administration. The current Fire Tax is declining due to the shut down of several key industries and new numbers are not available.  The future may be brighter for the Fire Tax as there is active recruitment of large industrial ventures.  However, in 2002 we implemented the ¼ cent EMS and Communication Tax that has supplemented the revenue to maintain Communications and EMS operations with 2/3rds of the money going to Metro Dispatch (communications) and 1/3 to EMS for a remaining few years. 

    McKinley County Fire is the direct fiscal agent for all McKinley County Fire/EMS agencies, County EMS divisions, several other neighboring tribal agencies and 3 private EMS Agencies to total 31 entities, and helps support other public safety agencies to include the Sheriffs Office.  

The Fire Administration Office is directly responsible for:

  • The administration of the 1/4% Excise tax (McKinley County Fire Fund).
  • The partial administration of the 1/4% EMS and Communication Tax as per agreement.
  • Administration of the EMS Grant Funds for all McKinley Departments and Entities within McKinley Co.
  • Administration of the Fire Protection Funds.
  • Development, recruitment and expansion of volunteer departments.
  • Career crew administration for McKinley County.
  • McKinley County Emergency Management and Emergency Preparedness.
  • Multi Agency, Multi-District Management during crisis.  (ICS)
  • Safety planning and research for McKinley County.
  • Maintenance and repair of Fire, EMS and Sheriffs Office Fleet vehicles.
  • Development of Grants and other available money to maintain or enhance operations.

The Fire Administration Personnel
Administrative/Sworn-Field Officers:

  • Bill Woolman, Chief of Fire Services, EMT-B/FF-I  (FM1)
  • Ken Hoffman, Deputy Chief, EMS Chief, NREMT-P/CC, FFI, EMS/Rescue I/C (FM2)

Administrative Personnel:

  • Melissa Orphery, Executive Assistant, Fire
  • Verlynn Herrera, Secretary, Fire

Fleet Shop:

  • Leo Skeets, Mechanic, McKinley County Sheriff
  • Mechanic, McKinley County Fire

Career Field Personnel:

                        Thoreau EMS

        Winona Cometsevah, EMT-I, EMS Supervisor, CAPT

  • Chris Sandoval,     EMT/FF-I, LT.

  • Jessica Creech,     EMT-I

  • Jimmy Silva,          EMT-B/ FF-II (Probationary)

  • Theresa                  EMT-I (Probationary)

  • Ralph Martinez     EMT-P/FF-I  (Probationary)

  • Justin Flowers       EMT-B/FF-I  (Probationary)

  • Dylan Solmon        EMT-I/FF-I (Probationary)       

  

To Contact the McKinley County Fire Administration Services Office
Call:  505-863-3839 or 505-863-1437
Fax:  505-863-1439
Or write:
P.O. Box 5210 Gallup, NM 87305

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