First Responder Spotlight is a monthly feature submitted by the Sandoval County Optimist Club.
Amanda Campos has been a career firefighter/EMT with Sandoval County Fire and Rescue since being hired in 2018. She began working with the department in October 2013 as a volunteer, obtaining her medical technician basic qualification during that time. In addition to her regular shift schedule at Station 21, she is also a member of a regional rescue team and an assistant statewide wildland coordinator and is helping to create a drone program with the Sandoval County Sheriff’s Office.
Campos’ desire to become a firefighter started as a graphic designer in her parents’ body shop and at an emergency outfitting store. She did the graphics on a Sandoval County ambulance and was later asked if she wanted to work for the county. She is impressed with the involvement of all the county employees who want to make the county better. She has received much guidance from prior and current leaders and co-workers in the fire department, and is impressed that the fire chief knows all of his employees. As a team member, she appreciates the care that each has for the others.
The work is varied. On the 48/96 regular schedule, the team responds to every emergency, whether fire or rescue. The calls range from four to eight calls a shift to shifts filled with constant calls. A call may take only two or three minutes, or may take hours. When not on calls, the time is filled with one hour of physical training a day and with training — either receiving training or training others. Because of her upbringing in her father’s shop, she has an interest in cars and has put that to use in her work in both maintenance and working the pumps. Off duty, she may be called upon in her rescue and wildland duties. With the river currently running high there are many weekend calls to rescue boaters. The Rio Grande Basin team has a drone to help locate people in trouble, see potential hazards, and monitor the safety of rescue personnel. Her wildland duties involve helping deploy resources throughout the state, doing refresher testing, and helping people stay prepared. Four hours of refresher training per year are required.
Amanda has off-duty interests, although she maintains her own daily physical training schedule. Growing up with cars, she maintains an interest in them and in her sister’s participation in speedway racing. She also cares for her three dogs.