Corrales Fire Chief receives public servant award

CORRALES — Corrales Fire Chief Anthony Martinez received a public servant award from the local VFW Post.

According to a village website news release, Martinez received the award Feb. 20 with his family present.

“(Martinez) does not like the limelight and believes credit for his accomplishments should go to his team of staff, this includes career and volunteer. He is a firm believer, it takes everyone, including the citizens in his community to make him a success,” the release states.

According to the release, Martinez joined the Corrales Fire department April 2, 1990, seven days after his 16th birthday.

“At the time Corrales had one paid firefighter working Monday to Friday 8 to 5. Anthony would come in to the station and teach himself to run pumps on all of the apparatus. One of the engines Corrales owned at the time was a temperamental 1965 MAC, he learned how to pump this engine first as other members of the department did not like to operate it. Former Corrales Chief Jim Fritts tells a story of how they had a fire and needed to use the MAC as a second Engine. He drove to Anthony’s house and picked him up so he could run the truck,” the release states.

He took and passed his EMT basic course at 16, according to the release.

“When he went to get his state license, there was no time for a minor to be an EMT basic, so they made him a first responder. He then retook the EMT basic course after turning 18. He then completed his EMT Intermediate in 1997,” it reads.

Now the chief has been with the department 35 years. The former chief officially hired Martinez in 1996 as his “right hand.”

“Chief Fritts said he always saw greatness in Anthony and wanted to make sure he stayed in Corrales to help grow the fire department,” it states.

Martinez was then promoted to the chief position after Fritts’ retirement in 2003.

According to the release, Martinez helped get a plan for 24-hour fire and EMS coverage started in the village, which included more staff. There are now two fire stations in Corrales as well.

Martinez made strides in the water department, according to the release.

“Corrales went from 1 water tank with 35,000 gallons of water and no public hydrants to having 4 additional water tanks, 391,000 gallons of water, with three of them on a pump system with water lines and hydrants. He helped produce the functions and designs of these systems,” it states. “As he put it, he is building a fire suppression system one hydrant at a time and has received tremendous community support for this effort.”

It also claims Martinez improved the Insurance Services Office (ISO) rating for the village. Some insurance companies use the ISO rating to calculate fire insurance rates, to lower the rate.

“He created a Swiftwater team and secured funding from the (Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management) and the Village for equipment for the team. He has personally used his Swiftwater skills many times to rescue people from Rio Grande,” it states.

The release adds that Martinez has lead efforts educating the public about river safety.

“Many rescues were performed by Anthony and other firefighters in 2023. Anthony, with the help of an Eagle Scout project, installed six river mile markers on the Rio Grande, the first ever on the entire length of the Rio Grande,” it reads.

Martinez remains a hands-on person, based on what the release states. “He is not just a chief but an active member of the department and the village.”