From Volunteers to Hotshots: Area Fire Agencies Are Hiring

While each department is looking for different kinds of applicants, the common thread is clear: agencies are searching for people willing to step into demanding public safety roles that require teamwork, discipline, and a willingness to serve.

By Levi Gwaltney
Image: Courtesy
Cover Photo: Fire Engine 2, Las Cruces Fire Department (Courtesy Photo)

Fire departments and wildfire crews across New Mexico are actively recruiting new members this spring, with opportunities ranging from volunteer service in Mesilla to career-track firefighting positions and elite wildfire training crews elsewhere in the state.

While each department is looking for different kinds of applicants, the common thread is clear: agencies are searching for people willing to step into demanding public safety roles that require teamwork, discipline, and a willingness to serve.

The New Mexico Forestry Division is currently hiring for its Pecos River hotshot training crew based in Las Vegas, New Mexico. The division is seeking crew members, squad leaders, and an assistant superintendent as part of its wildfire operations program.

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According to the recruitment notice, positions include tiered pay based on qualifications, hazard pay, overtime opportunities, health and dental benefits, and enhanced PERA retirement benefits. Applications for the hotshot crew close May 18.

Meanwhile, the Las Cruces Fire Department is encouraging prospective firefighters to begin careers locally, emphasizing the department’s family-oriented culture and team environment in its latest recruitment push.

LCFD Information

The department described firefighting as more than simply joining a workforce, highlighting the camaraderie and shared training that comes with the profession.

Just west of the city, the Mesilla Fire Department is recruiting volunteers for its 2026 Recruit Academy, scheduled to run from June 6 through Aug. 1.

The academy will meet weekends from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with applicants required to be at least 18 years old, possess a valid driver’s license, hold a high school diploma or equivalent, and pass a background check. Department officials noted that no prior firefighting experience is required.

Taken together, the recruitment efforts reflect the broad range of entry points into fire service in New Mexico — from volunteer departments rooted in local community response to professional municipal departments and highly specialized wildfire crews preparing for increasingly demanding fire seasons across the Southwest.