Five southern New Mexico firefighting agencies sign Automatic Aid Agreement

LAS CRUCES, New Mexico (KVIA) -- Doña Ana County and the New Mexico State University Fire Department, the City of Sunland Park, the City of Las Cruces, the NASA/White Sands Test Facility and the Town of Mesilla have signed an Automatic Aid Agreement for fire services.

This will allow the departments to streamline fire responses and reduce times.

The agreement was signed today and formalizes each department's commitment to improve responses to structure fires, cardiac arrest, and mass casualty incidents, officials explained.

The departments highlighted the following points of the agreement:

• "Enhanced Response Times: Immediate dispatch of the closest available fire resources reducing response times and potentially limiting damage and loss of life."
• "Resource Sharing: Access to specialized equipment and trained personnel across all participating entities optimizing overall operational effectiveness."
• "Improved Coordination: Streamlined communication and operational procedures between fire departments ensuring a cohesive and efficient response to emergencies."