History

DISTRICT HISTORY

The Timber Mesa Fire and Medical District (TMFMD) was formed in 2014 as the successful result of collaborative efforts and the merger of the Lakeside, Show Low, and, Linden Fire Districts. In 2018, the White Mountain Lake Fire District was consolidated into Timber Mesa as well. Also, in 2018 the Timber Mesa Fire and Medical District was awarded an expanded CON (ambulance service area) to provide ambulance transportation throughout the Fire District and the surrounding communities. Timber Mesa is now the only ambulance provider in the Fire District. The predecessor Fire Districts each had many years of public service history within their respective communities. That history began with the hard work of dedicated volunteers, working with little resources and more determination than experience. These first members of the districts laid the foundations for what was to come. Milestones were reached; full-time personnel were hired as the needs of the community increased; services were expanded to include all areas of fire, emergency medical and ambulance transportation services.

Ultimately it was determined that by combining the efforts and resources of the four districts, the TMFMD could more effectively provide risk management, medical, and fire suppression services to the communities in the White Mountains. Today, the organization provides all hazards response to the District and its citizens. These professional full-time fire and medical services include state-of-the-art Advanced Life Support (ALS) and transportation services.  Beyond traditional services, the TMFMD is progressing rapidly toward an integrated risk management model. This model will change the fire service as we know it as we adjust our posture from a predominantly reactive force to a more proactive community risk reduction model. The District provides an exceptional level of emergency and customer services. We maintain cooperative agreements with area partners to provide a higher level of service for the community. We have developed alternative revenue sources including ambulance transportation, wildland fire response and a robust fleet services division that have reduced the burden on the primary revenue source and helped provide this higher level of service.