Work may begin next year on the construction of a 12,000 square-foot new fire station in Las Cruces.
What is officially called Fire Station Number 9 is set to go up near the intersection of Sonoma Ranch Boulevard and Central Avenue and is designed to serve residences and businesses in the East Mesa, a rapidly growing section of the city.
Funding for the project is coming from a $9.8 million bond approved last year by Las Cruces voters by a roughly 66% to 33% margin. Of that $9.8 million, around $713,000 is expected to go to architectural and engineering services for the project.
City officials have said the location of the new station will reduce by around 3 minutes the response time for fires and emergencies in the Sonoma Ranch and Central Avenue service area.
The growing Las Cruces Fire Department last fall unveiled its new Fire Station Number 3, located at 380 N. Valley Drive. That 12,200 square-foot facility cost $6.2 million to build.
The fire department currently has eight stations, operating at strategic locations throughout the city. The department responds to upwards of 17,000 calls per year, the majority of which are for emergency medical assistance.
By Garry Boulard
