New Mexico State University

New Mexico State University Fire Department is a career-and-student combination department serving the NMSU main campus and the surrounding Las Cruces community from a single station on Wells Street. Founded as a volunteer organization in 1921, it has grown into a professional operation that responds to fire, medical, hazardous material, and technical rescue calls, and provides medical standby for athletic events, concerts, and special events.

The department is small and distinctive: roughly 20 people total, including 4 career administrators, 2 career firefighters, and about 14 student firefighters. Student members live in an on-site dorm inside the fire station and work a one-day-on, one-day-off rotation around their class schedules.

NMSU FD holds an ISO Public Protection Classification of 2/2X, which the department notes places it among the top 3% of fire departments nationwide. It provides mutual aid to Dona Ana County departments and the City of Las Cruces Fire Department.

The department periodically hires student firefighter/EMTs, on-call EMTs, and administrative staff; positions open as they become available and are not always accepting. The signature pathway is the Student Firefighter/EMT program, open to enrolled NMSU or DACC students with at least 12 credit hours, a 2.5+ GPA, at least two years remaining in their degree plan, and good financial standing.

Candidates apply through Handshake with a resume and expected graduation date. Selection involves a physical agility test (charged-line pull, heavy tool carry, dummy drag) and a panel interview in professional attire. New hires must obtain NM EMT-Basic licensure, a NM Class E driver's license, Firefighter I, and NIMS training in their first year, with the department reimbursing EMT-Basic tuition through DACC upon completion.