Commissioner Katherine A. Bruch and Fire Chief Chris Bagley cut the ribbon for Fire Station 34 Cuba-NW! Back row, from right: Deputy County Manager Eric Masterson; County Manager Wayne Johnson; Anthony Leyba, State Fire Marshal’s Office; and AJ Trujillo, Chief, District 3 Volunteer Fire Station.
Sandoval County Fire and Rescue (SCFR) held a ribbon-cutting and wet down event on Friday, October 2, 2026, at its Fire Station 34 (Cuba-NW) in Cuba, NM. Attendees included elected officials, government leaders, public safety personnel, business owners, and residents. The festivities featured a traditional ribbon-cutting and a Wet Down Ceremony, as is customary for a new station. Fire Station 34 has been operational since July 2026.
Sandoval County Manager Wayne Johnson offered welcoming remarks, sharing that “This station was a long time in coming,” and that “it was the result of the community and the entire County coming together to make it a reality.” Deputy County Manager Eric Masterson, the County’s former Fire Chief, was credited with being a driving force behind the station during his tenure as Fire Chief.
Further explanation of the station’s history was provided by Sandoval County Fire Chief Chris Bagley, who said, “This station represents a group of people refusing to give up on the idea that this community deserves the same services as the people in the more populated south receive. I want to thank Cuba Emergency Medical Services, which served this area for 40 years, the PMS (Presbyterian Medical Services) Clinic, our county leadership, and county staff for turning an idea into something real.” (The closure of Cuba Emergency Medical Services, which provided critical care and emergency support to the area, took effect June 30, 2026.)
Chief Bagley added that “I could not be more proud of the men and women of Sandoval County Fire and Rescue who have taken on change, new responsibilities, new challenges, and a new community to serve, with pride and professionalism. SCFR is in Cuba to be partners, good neighbors, and to strengthen relationships with the Navajo Nation, Jicarilla Apache, Village of Cuba, and other agencies. We are committed to this community,” Chief Bagley said, “the station is here, and here to serve you.”
In his remarks, Jordan Juarez, Chair of the Sandoval County Board of County Commissioners, emphasized that “Emergency care is not a convenience. It is the difference between help in minutes and help that is over an hour away.” Chair Juarez stated that “On July 1, Sandoval County Fire and Rescue took over 24-hour advanced life support, fire suppression, wildland response, and technical rescue for this part of the county. Today, we open the station that makes that promise permanent. Distance does not lessen our responsibility. When someone calls Sandoval County Fire EMS, we will be there to respond.”
Sandoval Commission Chair Jordan Juarez delivers remarks.
“We do not accomplish this by ourselves,” Chair Juarez continued. “To Cuba Fire volunteers and our volunteer companies in Regina and nearby districts, the paid staff are here to support you, not to take your place. For years, these volunteers have given their own time to help their neighbors, and this station is stronger because of you. Thank you to the Jicarilla Apache for being a partner in this, to staff this station with one extra crew member per shift, bringing that number to four, and that way, we are able to provide even more exceptional service.”
Commissioner Joshua A. Jones, District 5, shared congratulations and expressed the County’s commitment to the people of Cuba and surrounding areas via video. Eric Sifuentes, Sandoval County Fire and Rescue Chaplain, offered the invocation. Also in attendance were Commissioners Jon Herr, Vice Chair, District 2, and Katherine A. Bruch, District 1.
WHO IS SERVED BY FIRE STATION 34
This Sandoval County Fire and Rescue station provides on-site, 24/7 emergency response coverage to the Northwest region of Sandoval County. This includes Advanced Life Support (ALS) ambulance service, fire suppression, vehicle extrication, wildland fire response, technical rescue, and other emergency services. The Northwest region comprises the communities of Cuba, Regina, La Jara, San Luis, the Tri-Chapters of the Navajo Nation, and portions of the Jicarilla Apache Nation. While County-paid paramedics and firefighters are on-site to take calls, they work with local volunteers from fire stations in Cuba, Torreon, Regina, and La Jara during emergency responses. For medical, fire, rescue, or other emergencies, residents should always call 911.
These expanded operations in northwestern Sandoval County are funded in part by a supplemental Medicaid program for ambulance services. Also, Sandoval County and the Jicarilla Apache Nation have entered into an intergovernmental agreement to support staff positions for this station. In addition, a mutual aid agreement between Sandoval County and Rio Arriba County is in place so that if help is needed and SCFR has available resources, SCFR may assist with those calls.
Dakota Trujillo, firefighter at Fire Station 34, performs the wet down ceremony.
Rainbow (far bottom right) was a nod from Nature.
