New Mexico Department Questioned Over Response

RADIUM SPRINGS, N.M. --

A Radium Springs man is unresponsive in the hospital Wednesday evening after collapsing Tuesday.

Shirley Franich said she called 911 for her husband, but the dispatcher explained there was no response from the Radium Springs volunteer department.

They instead dispatched a crew from another district.

��The response time is ridiculous,�� said Radium Springs resident Fawn Knull.

��In the last month there's a couple of times I'm aware of that they have not had anybody able to respond to calls,�� Louis Bencomo, A Las Cruces paid city firefighter and former Radium Springs volunteer firefighter.

��If I'm not here I'm not here,�� said Radium Springs District Chief Dolores Guillen.

But those who want to volunteer said that Guillen told them they couldn��t.

��I wanted to volunteer for them and they said that they've got a full staff,�� said Knull.

Bencomo has been denied too. ��I have applied over the last 18 months. I have been turned down a number of times," he said.

But Guillen said they are incorrect.

Guillen told KFOX that certain people could join. She said, ��Anyone but that one firefighter.��

Members of the community claim the department is run by the fire chief's family who said they are grieving the death of the chief's husband.

��He committed suicide, shot himself, so why do you think that we want to go out anywhere right now knowing the county knows that we wouldn't be responding for a while,�� said the chief��s daughter.

Guillen said there are 16 to 18 volunteers, but when we asked out of 16 people why no one could respond, she responded that everyone works. ��It's a fact that when you make a choice to live in a rural area that is served by volunteers that response is going to be slower than if you live in an urban area where there are paid firefighters,�� said Jess Williams, spokesman for Dona Ana County.

He said the current paging system is in place to protect the residents.

��We start paging out the different agencies that are closest and we go in concentric circles until we've got somebody in response,�� said Williams.

The county says it is trying to standardize bylaws across its 16 districts. But still, some feel the problems arise with too many family members in one service.

��If they're having a family picnic or something and we have a fire what are they going to stop the picnic or wait until it's over and then show up,�� said Knull.

Williams said the system does work, and that an ambulance did respond. And there are some paid county firefighters in other areas where there are higher response needs.

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