HC75 Box 92, Chama, NM 87520
Brazos Canyon Volunteer Fire Department
Emergency – Dial 911
Non-Emergency (575) 588-0014
Brazos Canyon Volunteer Fire Department
Emergency – Dial 911
2025 Year End Updates
Warm Wishes and Important Updates from the Brazos Canyon Volunteer Fire Department
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to everyone, no matter how you choose to celebrate!
Captain Bob Diefenbaugh
It is with deep sadness that I share the news of the passing of one of our beloved firefighters, Captain Bob Diefenbaugh. He dedicated his service to the community as a firefighter since 2004, responding to numerous calls and playing a key role in the rebuilding of the Michael J. Hays Fire Station. Captain Diefenbaugh remained an active firefighter until October 2025 when he fell ill. Tragically, he passed away during Thanksgiving week. He is profoundly missed not only for his experience and wisdom as a firefighter but also as a treasured friend.
Community Engagement and Challenges
In other news, our fire department members have been actively engaged in various tasks, including:
Writing grant applications (though we were unfortunately denied on all submissions)
Training
Cleaning the stations
Preparing for inspections
Responding to emergency calls
Hosting our “thank you” gathering in August
Collaborating with Firewise
The last five months since I became Chief have been quite busy, and it’s expected to ramp up even more in January.
Upcoming ISO Inspection
Looking ahead, the fire department is scheduled for a seven-year ISO inspection in August 2026. The Insurance Services Office conducts this inspection based on a stringent standard form. The ISO rating serves as an advisory number that insurance companies may use to determine homeowners’ insurance premiums. Some insurers do not utilize ISO ratings, opting instead to base premiums on the home’s location, which has become increasingly common in the Brazos area. Nonetheless, maintaining our ISO rating is crucial, and it is becoming more challenging.
Keeping our ISO rating is essential, as it translates to improved funding from the state of New Mexico. We cannot improve our rating because we are not in the city where we receive zero points for ladder trucks, etc.
Call for Community Involvement
One standard we’re struggling to meet is the number of active firefighters and those responding to structure fires. It is required to have 12 active firefighters with four firefighters to respond to each structure fire. Failing to meet these numbers will result in an immediate loss of our ISO rating. My dedicated team is doing everything possible to prevent this, but as volunteers, we also have our paid jobs to juggle.
I am reaching out to my community to encourage you to join the fire department as an active firefighter. You don’t have to be on the front lines holding hoses. There is truck driving, operating pumps, refilling trucks with water and gas, etc., responding to calls, etc.
There is plenty to do, and your support would be invaluable. The process to become a firefighter involves completing an application, which once completed I can submit to the RAC Fire Chief’s office in Española for you if you like. A background check will be conducted quickly, and upon clearance, you’ll introduce yourself to the membership followed by an official vote. Uniform fittings and other requirements will be addressed during your six-month probation as a BCVFD member. Trainings occur on the third Saturday of each month, with additional trainings offered.
Join Us in Serving the Community
Please consider this opportunity; it’s a fantastic way to serve our community, and your help is much needed! Our webmaster, Meredith Pond, has the application on this website, but you can also access it through this link: Firefighter Application. https://www.rio-arriba.org/files/assets/county/v/1/fireem/documents/fire_application.pdf
The email for the fire department is brazosvfd@rio-arriba.org.
Recently, we have had some remarkable training sessions, including SCBA (self-contained breathing apparatus) training and live propane fire training.
You may have noticed our trucks out and about more frequently; this is part of our ongoing training and a low-stress method to familiarize ourselves with the roads.
Once again, from all of us at your community volunteer fire department, we wish you a Merry Christmas, however you celebrate the season.
Safe travels.
Catherine Praiswater, Chief, Brazos Canyon Volunteer Fire Department