NMSU students named 2020 Firefighters of the Year

New Mexico State University student firefighters Lucas Cadena and Thomas Ontiveros have been named as NMSU Firefighters of the Year for 2020.

They are among the 14 student firefighters and six career staff members that serve in the NMSU Fire Department. The NMSU Fire Department provides emergency response service to the NMSU campus and to the surrounding fire districts in Dona Ana County.

The recipients of the annual award are recognized for their accomplishments, leadership, volunteer spirit and overall qualities and traits that exemplify what it means to be an NMSU firefighter. Most years, the honor is only bestowed on one student firefighter; this year two were selected.

Ontiveros has been a member of the NMSU fire department since September 2016, while Cadena joined the department in October 2018.

“Becoming a student firefighter was one of the best decisions I have ever made,” said Cadena, who received a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology in December. “This job has increased my interest in pursuing a career as a firefighter as well as a health care professional. The dedication and teamwork exemplified throughout this department has been a persistent inspiration.”

Ontiveros is earning a degree in wildlife science with career plans of becoming a game warden.
“From the training and field experience, to the wisdom and knowledge from my captains and the lifelong friendships, summing up what I have gained from this job in a couple of sentences is nearly impossible,” said Ontiveros. “Applying to be a firefighter while at NMSU is one of the best decisions I have ever made. The best thing about it is I will continue to rely on the experience I gained long into my career.”

Both recipients said this was not just a job to get them through college.

“We pride ourselves in providing a high level of service and having the skills to complete the mission,” said Johnny Carrillo, NMSU fire chief. “Our students train to National Fire Protection Agency recognized standards and are licensed EMS responders at national and New Mexico license levels.”

While working 20 to 29 hours a week for the department and maintaining a good grade-point average in their university studies, Cadena and Ontiveros have obtained the Emergency Medical Services basic license, International Fire Service Accreditation Council’s Firefighter I and II certification, and met the National Fire Protection Agency’s driver operator and company officer qualification.

“When our student firefighters graduate with their chosen degree, they also leave with many skills, experience, certifications and licenses that make them highly competitive when they apply for jobs in their chosen career,” Carrillo said. “Each year three to four of our students are hired by career fire departments.”

The NMSU fire department is entering its centennial year. Since 1921, the fire department has responded to emergency calls on campus and in neighboring areas.

The fire department answers an average of three emergency calls a day and performs other activities such as CPR and safety trainings.

“With two weeks left in 2020, we had responded to 939 calls,” Carrillo said. “We usually average 1,000 calls a year, of those 56 percent are medical emergencies.”

Not all of the calls during a year are on the NMSU campus. As part of Dona Ana County’s volunteer fire department system, NMSU firefighters help neighboring districts when called upon.

“We are proud that our fire district has an Insurance Service Organization public protection classification of a two, commonly known as an ISO 2 rating, which is the highest in Dona Ana County,” Carrillo said. “This reflects the quality of our emergency response capability, water distribution system and emergency communication system. It also reflects the dedication our student firefighters have toward this job.”