LOCAL

County volunteer fire departments achieve better ratings

Ruidoso News

Lincoln County Manager Nita Taylor and Emergency Management Director Joe Kenmore recognized members of two volunteer county fire departments during the county commission meeting last week.

Representing the two volunteer fire departments from left, were Bonito Chief Carl Bartley, Bonito Safety Officer Rick Hall, Arabela Deputy Chief Cliff Crouch and his wife, Bess, and Joe Kenmore, county emergency services director. In back from left, are commissioners Tom Stewart, Elaine Allen, Vice Chairman Dallas Draper and Lynn Willard.

The purpose of this agenda item item is to recognize the volunteer fire departments of Bonito and Arabela," Taylor said. Along with other departments, they participate in a survey of their status by the Insurance Services Office conducted by the State Fire Marshal's Office every three years. A lower number in their protective classification rating indicates a successful advance in firefighting capacity and an increased level of service to community, she said.

Arabela progressed from a rating of nine to six, and Bonito from eight to six. Taylor said county emergency services provided support to the fire departments to ready themselves for the surveys.