This area is to add context and information that may have been lost in the process of fitting it into a document.
Earthquake Hazard
The current building is officially listed as being incapable of surviving an earthquake, as of its last inspection
ADA Failures
Wheelchair access does not meet ADA standards, lack of exit signs.
Lack of Fire Safety
Building does not have systematic fire detection, any fire suppression technology, and cannot pass a safety inspection
Unable to be Secured
In the case of a government shutdown, there are requirements to lock down the building to prevent access or vandalism. These requirements (door locks, window coverings, safety monitoring) cannot be completed, especially as the side door cannot be locked.
Storage Condemned
The main storage building has been condemned due to mold. It is in use due to a complete lack of other storage, but is a hazard to staff and inventory.
Regional Space Requirements
The region has mandatory minimums for workspace density, which cannot be met currently, muchless with the additional staff that’s required.
Costs of Maintaining Status Quo
Current building has recently been assessed as being in dire condition, resulting in a $50,000 roof replacement estimate. It also requires a new water heater due to age and leaking. If the new location is purchased quickly, this money can be better allocated to improving the new area, instead of towards a fix on a building about to be replaced regardless.
Material Hazards
The current building was constructed in 1940, and has never been tested for lead paint or asbestos insulation. The ductwork is improperly done, possibly creating a mold hazard. There is water damage from the damaged roof, further increasing the chances of toxic mold buildup and other disease vectors in the structure.
Quotes
Here are some local quotes about this proposal:
“ The fact that the US Forest Service would like to occupy a building that is already established in our community is good news to me. I commend the US Forest Service for wanting to expand their operations in Las Vegas. I am in full support of the acquisition of the Las Vegas City Schools building.“ Mayor Louie Trujillo
“Investment in our school forestry programs will allow for students to use the Forest as a classroom and become future foresters.” Superintendent Larryssa Archuleta
“The funds from the purchase of the school building could be used for future school forestry projects.” Max O Trujillo District 3 San Miguel County Commissioner
Post-Fire Recovery
In 2022 (2), the Hermit’s Peak Fire began as a prescribed fire in the Pecos Wilderness area of the Santa Fe National Forest. After escaping containment it eventually merged with the Calfs Canyon fire, which began as a pile burn holdover. Over 340,000 acres of forest burned. Las Vegas, New Mexico is a town of about 13,000 residents and is less than 20 miles from where the fires began. This district office is in charge of recovery efforts, and is the USFS primary link to the affected community.
Strong Community and Political Support
The Legion Park Elementary School has been inactive since 2018, and nothing has had the requirements to fill such a unique space until now. The city would like to see it used effectively and to stop paying for empty upkeep, and we have the direct political support of the mayors office in expediting this purchase.
Optics of Building New VS Purchase and Refurbish
The Las Vegas community has had a history of avoiding new construction to maintain its historic roots. It is still hurting from the fire, and would likely see the resources being expended towards new construction as a waste of resources which could be better pushed towards recovery. Purchasing the school is a much lower profile action, and will build community trust.
Center of Excellence
With the new building, the ranger district could provide much more effective support and community outreach, integrating trainings, events, local collaborations with other departments and schools, and have a solid footing for a more pronounced positive presence.
Training
We would have the space and amenities to provide training to our people, as well as coordinate to train and recruit local youth in forestry and natural stewardship.
Lack of Engine Bay
The current facilities have no engine bay, only a chain-link fenced parking lot to house vehicles. The engines and support vehicles we require must be housed elsewhere, reducing the overall capacity for response for ourselves and local fire response.
Heating, Cooling, and Ventilation
The heating system is currently directly exposed to outside air, reducing efficiency. The swamp cooler has to be run off an extension cable pushed through a window in the meeting room. There is no ventilation through the building, trapping breathing hazards like allergens and smoke inside. Some of the windows are painted shut, exacerbating this issue.
Turnover
We have experienced high turnover, and the cramped conditions are often listed as a factor of the departure.
Optics of Current Building
With the situation currently, we have much more traffic than we have had historically, and everyone who needs to talk to us sees the state of the building. The cracks in the front entrance, the lack of effective reception area, and the limited space allocated to each desk do not engender confidence.
Lack of Area Separation
With multiple coordinators using the same office space, there is often a problem with multiple important phone calls happening simultaneously with no sound separation
Cable Management
Years of partial updates have left the communications infrastructure ragged. Legacy hardware is tangled with new, cables are split and recombined, and no one is certain what some cables and boxes do any more. This has created problems for technical support and causes unnecessary downtimes and communication failures. The new building is up to code as of 2018, and will require minimum updates to bring it up to effective standards.
Second in Line
The Las Vegas District is second in line for the region to recieve funds for a new building construction.
Quarters for District
The region has experienced a large shortage of quarters and ammenities for ranger staff, fire crews, and additional support staff during high intensity events. Granting this proposal will create a large swath of quarters, reducing this burden districtwide. We intend to improve seasonal firefighter housing with a pilot project that highlights community engagement to improve the housing crisis. This has the potential to be used as an example across the nation.
Already in place
The new building is at/near code across all metrics. Fire safety, communications infrastructure, water, electrical, and even desks for staff and trainees. Purchasing this building will save not only the initial $2M by being cheaper than a new build, but will also save additional time and money down the line as some components will be able to be used immediately.