Firefighters Recognized for Outstanding Service

February 10, 2009 is recognized as Raton Fire and Emergency Services Day, as proclaimed by Mayor Joe F. Apache for the response to a devastating fire at the Historic El Portal Hotel on Tuesday, February 3, 2009.  Mayor Apache states that the Raton Fire and Emergency Services risk their lives daily on the job to protect the residents and businesses of our community.  Approximately 21 firefighters confronted, controlled and ultimately extinguished the blaze in an extremely professional and timely manner.  No injuries were sustained despite the dangerous conditions in the building including a backdraft explosion that threw a firefighter off his feet pushing him back through a door.  Raton Fire and Emergency Services did an outstanding job blocking off the streets and dangerous parts of the building insuring public safety during the incident and in the aftermath, escorted tenants into the building to retrieve belongings from areas deemed safe.  The City of Raton is most fortunate to have a well equipped and well trained fire department that is able to manage a complex fire emergency as professionally as it did at the El Portal Hotel.   We urge all citizens to applaud Chief Dave Pasquale and his personnel for doing an outstanding job and to thank the other agencies for their assistance, as well, during this unfortunate incident.