Farmington study says proposed fire station would slow turnout times

Farmington’s plan for a new fire station on San Juan Boulevard landed before council as a public-safety calculation, not just a construction project. The proposed Animas River Station at 2300 San Juan Boulevard near Tucker would cost about $8 million, add 12 firefighters and a new engine, and move the city closer to a four-minute response on 90% of calls. But the study presented at the June 16 work session also showed the site would lengthen turnout times, forcing officials to weigh faster reach into the southeast side of town against slower service elsewhere.

The analysis used fire incident and response-time data from 2020 through 2024 and measured the plan against the national benchmark of a four-minute fire department travel time. Farmington Fire currently arrives within four minutes 77% of the time, the study said. Under the San Juan Boulevard option, that share would rise to about 90% of calls within four minutes.

City project materials describe new stations as a way to extend rapid response into underserved areas and improve redundancy, rather than relocate existing stations. In Farmington, that strategy would affect more than one part of the map. The new station is expected to provide protection for Animas Park, Berg Park and residential areas on the southeast side, places city officials see as important to future growth. At the same time, the analysis showed the location would create slower turnout times than officials want to see, sharpening the choice between broader coverage and quicker access for some calls.

City Manager Shana Reeves said the council had “strategically earmarked and purchased” the San Juan Boulevard property to help the city be more proactive about response times. Fire Chief Robert Sterrett said the department had logged 7,209 calls as of the meeting, but 12,476 responses because many incidents require multiple units. He said the department’s call volume and overnight workload can strain personnel, which makes every minute of response coverage more valuable.

The project is expected to go to the State of New Mexico in July for possible state funding and grant opportunities. For Farmington officials, the question now is not whether the city needs more fire capacity, but whether the San Juan Boulevard site is the right place to buy it.