Funded by a recent grant award from the New Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department (EMNRD), Forestry Division 2023 Volunteer Fire Assistance Program (VFA), Cuba Fire Rescue established a new Wildland Fire Coordinator position to help protect Cuba and surrounding communities from catastrophic wildland fire. Certified Wildland Firefighter and Cuba Fire Rescue Volunteer Ben Yeargin was selected to fill the position for a period of one year.
The Wildland Fire Coordinator will work directly with the department and other fire and emergency management agencies to set up wildland firefighter training, track wildland fire qualifications, and develop interagency agreements such as the New Mexico Resource Mobilization Plan. Additionally, the Coordinator will help to facilitate fire prevention programs in the community to include fuels reduction projects, defensible space workshops, and other public education outreach.
“This new position is critical to help our volunteer department adequately respond to fire events in our high-risk Wildland Urban Interface,” says Cuba Fire Rescue Chief Rick Romero. “We are proud to select Ben as a highly qualified leader from our department’s volunteer ranks to serve in this capacity and help us to create a more capable wildland fire prevention and suppression program for our community.”
Yeargin has been a volunteer with Cuba Fire since 2019 and formerly served as Lieutenant. He is a current wildland firefighter with New Mexico State Forestry and maintains certification as Firefighter I, Faller II, and Engine Operator, in addition to being a trainee for Incident Commander V and Base Camp Manager. Yeargin is a certified Wilderness First Responder and works with Cuba EMS as a certified EMT-B. His experience includes supporting the US Air Force Wildland Fire Module 1 at Kirtland AFB with the Forest Stewards Guild, and leading crews for seasonal fuels reduction programs out-of-state with The Nature Conservancy.
“This is a great opportunity for the department and our community to be proactive in managing our fire risk and developing the local economy with jobs and services that support wildland fire programs,” says Yeargin. “I’m honored to be a part of Cuba Fire and look forward to providing training and career opportunities to local residents so that we can all be more resilient.”
Under Yeargin’s direction, Cuba Fire is partnering with the New Mexico State Forestry Department to bring Introductory Firefighting Training (S130/190) to Cuba on January 28-29 and February 4-5. This no-cost in-person training is a requirement for all wildland firefighting jobs and is the first step in certifying personnel for paid work with agencies such as the US Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management. More information can be found at CubaFire.org.
The VFA grant money is provided through emergency funds made available by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service and requires a cost-share of 10 percent. Cuba Fire also received VFA funding to purchase and upgrade necessary wildland fire apparatus and equipment for personnel to effectively respond to fire events in New Mexico and out-of-state.
The potential for wildfire and high-value losses in Cuba and the surrounding area is great. The Department’s service area is sandwiched between National Forest and Wilderness Area, public access and leased BLM lands, Tribal lands, and private property. Recent indicators across the local space of 19,200 acres include a consistently high number of abandoned campfires in the neighboring forest, accumulating fuelwood in wilderness areas, lower than average precipitation, uncontrolled ranchland and pile burning activities, unpredictable oil and gasworks, and regular lightning strikes.
Working with supportive organizations such as Fire Adapted Communities, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Cuba Soil and Water, Cuba Schools, and others, Cuba Fire’s Wildland Coordinator will be responsible for bringing training, outreach, and proactive interventions specific to reducing wildfire risk to the community-at-large.