Jeff Bingaman United States Senator from New Mexico

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Jeff Bingaman and Tom Udall today announced that U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is releasing $2.7 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) for the construction of a new fire station in Sandoval County.

Funding will be used to construct a fire and emergency rescue station.  The station will be staffed 24 hour, 365 days a year by professional firefighters and paramedics.  Additionally, the station will house the Sandoval County's Fire Residency Program.  The station will serve southern Sandoval County, including the Pueblos of Santa Ana, San Felipe and Zia, the town of Bernalillo, the Tamaya Hyatt Resort and Santa Ana Star Casino and will be the first responders to accidents in the nearby 550/528 and I-25 corridor.

"This new fire and rescue station will be a great benefit to the county and the communities it will serve.  It will be particularly well positioned to respond to traffic emergencies on the heavily used roads surrounding it," Bingaman said.

"This funding will provide essential support for fire station construction in Sandoval County," Udall said. "By improving the county's emergency response capabilities, we're ensuring our firefighters have the tools they need to protect area residents from the dangers of fire and other hazards."

Funding was awarded through DHS's Fire Station Construction Grant Program (SCG), which helps local fire departments build new or modify existing fire stations to enhance response capabilities and protect communities from fire-related hazards. Funding can be used to replace unsafe or uninhabitable structures and expand fire protection coverage in compliance with National Fire Protection Association standards.