A long-time wish in the Town of Peralta is a step closer to reality with the announcement that up to $1 million in federal funds have been secured for the construction of a new fire station.
That funding is more specifically coming through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Community Facilities loan and grant program.
The project will most likely be built on the west side of New Mexico State Road 47 as that route intersects with Molina Road.
As planned, the project will include five equipment bays with an 11,000-square-foot facility housing two offices, a training room, kitchen, locker room, sleeping area, and decontamination room complete with restrooms and showers.
Announcement of the $1 million grant was made by New Mexico Democrat Representative Melanie Stansbery, who submitted a request to fund the new fire station more than a year ago.
In making that request, Stansbery had originally asked for $8 million.
The current fire station, serving a population of around 3,300 residents, is located at 3 James Road and was built nearly a half century ago. According to local officials, the facility is no longer up to modern standards.
In an interview last year with the Valencia County News-Bulletin, Peralta Fire Chief Jeremy Fiedler remarked: “We have to double up locker space. Right now, we don’t even have room for a washing machine to wash our gear.”
Early design work for the facility has been conducted by the Albuquerque-based Molzen Corbin architectural firm.
Town officials are hoping to secure additional funding from other sources before an exact construction schedule is announced.
By Garry Boulard
