Brazos Canyon Volunteer Fire Department

Emergency – Dial 911

Non-Emergency (575) 588-0014

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Brazos Canyon Volunteer Fire Department

Emergency – Dial 911

Brazos Canyon Fire District

  • Covering more than 51 square miles in Rio Arriba county
  • Rugged forested mountainous and remote terrain with structures in areas.
  • Bordered on the south by almost eight miles of the Brazos River.
  • United States Highway 84, both East and West sides of the highway  to Jicarilla Apache land. 
  • North and even beyond C.R. 343, Rio Chama Estates (C.R. 343) 
  • East by the foothills of the San Juan Mountain Range.
  • The Insurance Service Office (ISO) rating for the department is 6/6X
  • BCVFD is a FireWise USA® and Fire Mitigation Community and active in community involvement in educating the District’s landowners on mitigation—defensible space strategies. 
  • The New Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department, Forestry Division, has identified the entire district served by the Brazos Canyon Volunteer Fire Department as facing “high wildfire hazard potential”.  There are three classifications: Low, Medium, and High. The BCVFD district is categorized as HIGH risk. This classification is attributed to the existing fuel conditions and the persistent hot, dry weather. 
  • The BCVFD operates two primary stations: Michael J. Hays, located at 855 NM 512, and Ponderosa, situated at 173 C.R. 341.

About Us

(BCVFD) was organized in 1998 and sanctioned by the State of New Mexico in 1999.

The department comprises approximately 16 active firefighters and 9 auxiliary members, all of whom serve in unpaid volunteer roles. The department is led by Fire Chief Catherine Sanchez-Praiswater, with Jake Collison serving as the Assistant Chief. Brian Gallagher holds the position of Secretary, while Robert Bookwalter serves as Treasurer.

Volunteer firefighters play an essential role in providing emergency services in our rural community. In New Mexico, volunteer firefighters account for almost 85% of the fire service workforce, and nationally, this figure exceeds 70%. 

The department extends its heartfelt gratitude to all those who have contributed time and resources to support BCVFD and wildfire mitigation efforts in the BCVFD district.

Donate to the Brazos Canyon Volunteer Fire Department

Our Fleet

  • 3Engine 1: pumper, holds 1,026 gallons, and has foam capability.
  • Engine 2: pumper, holds 1,000 gallons, and carries extrication equipment.
  • Tender: water tanker, holds 3,000 gallons.  This type truck is useful in areas where little or no water is available within close proximity of a fire.
  • Brush Truck 1: Fast attack brush truck, holds about 350 gallons, four-wheel drive.
  • Brush Truck 2: Fast attack brush truck, holds 400 gallons, four-wheel drive
  • Two 6-wheel drive Polaris UTVs with firefighting (95 gallons/5 gallons foam).
  • Command Vehicle: 2002 Ford Excursion, four-wheel drive.

Firewise USA® and Fire Mitigation

Brazos Canyon Volunteer Fire Department is active in community involvement in educating the District’s landowners on mitigation—defensible space strategies.  The department was a recipient of two large grants for wildfire risk mitigation.  The first was a Wildland Urban Interface grant with the New Mexico State Forestry Department (NMSFD).  The NMSFD identified Brazos Canyon as one of the top communities in the state most at risk from catastrophic wildfire.  The second grant comes from meeting all of the requirements of developing a FireWise community or program.  This FireWise USA® program is co-sponsored by the USDA Forest Service, the U.S. Department of the Interior, and the National Association of State Foresters.

Learn More about Brazos Firewise Activities

FAQ

Brazos Canyon Volunteer Fire Department is recruiting new
members.  Please join the department and serve our community in the capacity of firefighter, or limited duty firefighter.  Please contact
a BCVFD member or call (575) 588-0014 or click this link for more information and to apply.

If you would like to volunteer in the department but you do not want to be a firefighter then think about joining as an auxiliary member.  The auxiliary members are community landowners who make delicious foods and desserts and assist with the department’s fundraisers and social events.  Please call or email Chief Sanchez-Praiswater or Captain Brian Gallagher for more information on the BCVFD’s Auxiliary.

  • Pond water in the UBPOA area and ponds on private ranches
  • Enchant-o-rama 10,000 gallon tank
  • UBPOA flush hydrants
  • Green tank: 56,000 gallons, when full
  • Gallery tank: 36,000 gallons, when full
  • Underground storage tanks along 512: 30,000 gallons
  • Stored tanks in the Ponderosa: 59,000
  • Another set of Ponderosa tanks plumbed together. Tanks total 45,000-50,000 gallons
  • Brazos and Chama Rivers
  • Canones hydrants
  • Various pond easements within Mundy Ranch and Rio Chama Estates

The Insurance Service Office (ISO) rating for the department is 6/6X.  This rating is granted after a thorough inspection by the State Fire Marshal and is determined by the department’s firefighting capabilities (active members, apparatuses, equipment, water sources and availability, training, etc.).  The BCVFD has two designated main stations: one located in the Brazos Canyon, and the other in the Ponderosa area.  The primary funding for the department comes from the State Fire Marshal’s Office and is based on the number of main stations and the overall equipment in the stations.

News and Updates from the Brazos Canyon VFD

HC75 Box 92, Chama, NM 87520

Emergency – Dial 911

Non-Emergency – 575-588-0014 

E-mail – BrazosVFD@rio-arriba.org

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