El Dorado Volunteer Fire District
The El Dorado Fire Brigade started in 1976 when there were fewer than 400 homes in the area. Its first home was in a barn by the Eldorado Clubhouse. El Dorado Fire & Rescue Service became an official fire district in the County of Santa Fe on January 14, 1980. The current Main Station was built in 1985 and expanded in 1997. Station 2 was built in 1990, Station 3 was built in 1995.
Insurance Services Organization (ISO) Rating for the El Dorado Volunteer Fire District (4/8B):ISO collects information (such as nearest water supply, fire station, station staffing, paid or volunteer, number of personnel, number and type of fire trucks, pumping capacity, etc.) on municipal fire-protection efforts in communities throughout the United States. Based on the information a numerical rating is given to the area which is used by insurance companies to determine premiums. The Santa Fe County Fire Department is set up to meet/exceed the NFPA 1231 Water Supplies for Suburban and Rural Firefighting requirement of 250 gallons of water per minute for 2 hours. Because of this, there is currently, not a district in the County that has a class 10 rating. Lower ISO ratings apply to specific areas and subdivisions in the district with a hydranted water supply or inspected water source within 1,000 feet of a residence or 500 feet of a commercial business. Higher ISO ratings apply district wide where there are no hydrants or inspected water sources within 1,000 feet of a residence or 500 feet of a commercial business.
|
Located in the central portion of the County the El Dorado Fire District serves the communities of Eldorado, Belicia, Alteza, Dos Griegos, Los Vaqueros, Tierra Colinas, Los Caballos, Ranchos de Santa Fe, The Ridges, Old Road Ranch, Cielo Colorado, Lamy, the US285 Corridor, Galisteo Basin Preserve, Tierra Sabrosa, Vista Sierra Bonita, Ladera, Avila at Eldorado, Las Nubes out of three fire stations located at #144 Avenida Vista Grande, the intersection of Avenida Vista Grande & Avenida Casa del Oro and the entrance to the transfer station at the intersection of US Hwy 285 & El Dorado. Currently the district has over 4,000 homes and an increasing and expanding commercial area. The recent water moratorium has been lifted and residential lots/development is growing once again. The district includes two railroads, the WIPP route, a gas station, an elementary school, several restaurants, two shopping malls, numerous office spaces, green belts, wilderness areas, a pool, library, senior center, community center, a train station, soccer and baseball fields, parks with playground equipment, bike paths, equestrian trails, stables, multiple indoor arenas, several large ranches, and state and forest service land. In order to meet the increased demands the District works closely with NMState Forestry, USFS and other Districts within Santa Fe County.