BLUEWATER, N.M. – The Bluewater Village Volunteer Fire Department has earned an improved public protection score, a milestone local fire leaders say reflects years of work to strengthen emergency service in the community.
According to information provided by the department and the Cibola County Fire Marshal’s Office, Bluewater Village’s Public Protection Classification has advanced to an ISO rating of 3/3Y, a significant improvement from earlier years and a sign of stronger fire protection capabilities.
The Insurance Services Office scale runs from 1 to 10, with lower numbers indicating stronger fire protection and 10 representing the weakest protection. Department records show Bluewater was rated 9/6 in 2014, 6/4 in 2018, and now 4/3 in 2026, showing a steady improvement over time.
The department said the Class 3 rating reflects strong performance in major areas including community risk reduction, training, response to calls, dispatch and water supply.
The related 3Y designation generally applies to properties located within five miles of a fire station but more than 1,000 feet from a hydrant. Department leaders noted that improved ratings can matter not only as a measure of service quality, but also because they may help some property owners qualify for lower insurance premiums.
Fire Chief Preston Neff said the accomplishment belongs to the volunteers and administrators who have dedicated their time to improving safety for Bluewater and the surrounding area.
Neff summed up the department’s philosophy simply: “Leave it better than we got it – that’s what it’s about.”
Additional background from the Fire Marshal’s Office paints the rating improvement as the result of years of rebuilding. Neff, a seven-year veteran of the fire service who has served as chief for five years, previously worked as a firefighter and captain while also handling chief, secretary and training officer responsibilities.
Before becoming chief, he helped secure new bunker gear and worked on specifications for a replacement apparatus after the department’s older engine no longer met pump requirements.
When Neff was voted in as chief at age 26, the department was facing major challenges, according to the Fire Marshal’s Office.
Officials said Bluewater had no handheld radios, firefighters were being alerted by a phone-tree system, much of the equipment was inoperable, and members lacked adequate training for emergency medical care and fire suppression. Since then, the department has added more protective gear, acquired radios, improved equipment and expanded its visibility in the community, helping attract new members.
Today, the department has 16 volunteers on its roster, according to the Fire Marshal’s Office. More than half are certified Fire I firefighters and Wildland Type II firefighters, and five are trained in EMS. Neff also holds a long list of fire service certifications and professional affiliations, while the department’s mission emphasizes community-focused service delivered with “Honor, Integrity and Pride.”
The accomplishment also carries historical weight for Bluewater. The Bluewater Village Volunteer Fire Department was established in 1952, then known as District 1 in Valencia County, after a house fire that claimed the life of a little girl. Its early equipment included a 1929 Chevrolet fire truck, hoses, extinguishers, ladders and basic tools. In its early years, the community struggled with limited water infrastructure and had to fight for approval to use fire funds to purchase hydrants.
By 1963, the department began construction on the cinderblock station building that still serves as its fire station today.
For Bluewater residents, the improved ISO rating should mean cheaper insurance costs and improved response times from the local fire department.