Battalion Chief
Las Cruces, NM Fire Department
Las Cruces, New Mexico, United States
Jason Smith is the Las Cruces Fire Department (LCFD) Fire Chief in New Mexico. He oversees a team of 179 sworn firefighters distributed across eight fire stations within the city. His leadership includes the management of Fire Prevention, Mobile Integrated Health personnel, mental crisis response team, support staff, and Training Division. LCFD responds to approximately 23,000 emergency and non-emergency calls annually and provides initial care to around 15,000 patients annually. Chief Smith is recognized for enhancing the department's capabilities, including three specialized response teams: the Technical Rescue, Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting, and Hazardous Materials Response. Under his guidance, the Technical Rescue Team has achieved regional and national acclaim for their coordinated life-saving rescues in challenging environments such as the Organ Mountains. In addition to his operational duties, Smith has overseen the implementation of ambulance billing services, which began on July 1, 2023, to enhance the department's financial sustainability and service delivery. Smith played a pivotal role tin the formation of the last two general obligation bond elections within the City of Las Cruces, resulting in $16 million in funding for fire station construction over the last seven years. His forward-thinking approach includes planning for a new fire station on the city's east mesa, demonstrating his commitment to expanding and improving public safety infrastructure in Las Cruces. Chief Smith was also able to secure funding for firefighter cancer screening and the creation of a Health and Wellness Battalion Chief. The Las Cruces Fire Department has been an ISO PPC Class 1 organization since 2015.
Battalion Chief Matthew Hiles has a distinguished career with the Las Cruces Fire Department, spanning over 16 years, and over 20 years in total within the fire services. He was promoted to Battalion Chief in December 2022, taking on a pivotal role in managing the department's Mobile Integrated Health Program (MIH) and Mobile Crisis Response Team. His work also focuses on the L.I.G.H.T. program, which stands for Lessening the Incidents of Grief, Harm, and Trauma. This innovative program aims to address mental and behavioral health needs, enhancing community support and response.
Allison Stoner is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. She has worked for the Las Cruces Fire Department for three years - first doing overdose prevention and outreach, now doing crisis response through the 911 system. Though she never expected to work in the fire service, it has been the most welcomed surprise. This work redefines what it means to be a community-focused provider: in direct service to patients, and as a supplementary support to first responders. Prior to moving to New Mexico for graduate school, Allison was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Ukraine.
Thursday, August 15, 2024
4:30 PM – 5:45 PM