Arivaca Fire District Auxiliary (AFD Auxiliary)

The Arivaca Fire District Auxiliary (AFD Auxiliary) is a non-proft organization dedicated to raising funds to support the firefighters and medical personnel at the Arivaca Fire District Fire Station. Money raised enables the purchase of items which are not funded, or are underfunded, in the Fire District Budget. The Auxiliary provides money for fire station and emergency vehicle operating expenses, required education and certification programs, and uniforms.

AFD Auxiliary support to the Fire District helps our firefighters and medical personnel provide emergency services to the population in our rural service area. The service area starts at approximately mile marker 13.5 on the Arivaca Road and goes to mile marker 24 on Highway 286. It includes residences and wildland in the Moyza Ranch Road area, the community of Arivaca, the town of Sasabe, and properties in rural remote areas south to the border of the United States and Mexico. The Fire District earns revenue by participating in residence and wildlands fire suppression, and by providing emergency medical services, including patient transport by ambulance. The majority of roads in our service area are dirt and not publicly maintained, and are in rugged and remote terrain. Wear and tear on our fire trucks and ambulance is significant and impacts the District's ability to respond to emergencies. The AFD Auxiliary contributes money for the maintenance and repair of these vehicles. Our firefighters and medical personnel are required to maintain their various certifications and to obtain continuing education to keep current with best emergency response practices, rules and regulations. The Auxiliary helps personnel pay for the classes and conferences they are required to attend. The Auxiliary also provides money to purchase uniforms for new and current firefighters and medical personnel; the proper uniforms enable the public to quickly recognize responders in an emergency situation. Our Fire Station is located in the small townsite of Arivaca and is a "home away from home" for on-shift personnel. The Auxiliary provides the supplies necessary to make this "home" livable, such as cleaning supplies, linens, and coffee.

We are very aware of how important our Fire District station is in helping to save lives of individuals affected by medical emergencies and/or fire, and protecting property and wildlands from fire. The AFD Auxiliary raises money for our support of the Fire Station by writing grant proposals for specific needs such as new tires, uniforms, or continuing education. We also hold fundraising events in the town of Arivaca such as hotdog sales on First Saturdays, Mother's Day and Father's Day breakfasts, a Rummage Sale day, and ice cream sales at the annual Arivaca Memories and Music festival in January. Given our small population, approximately 600 people, these activities raise small amounts of money. We hope donors participating in the Arizona Gives day event will give generously to the AFD Auxiliary so that we can continue to support our firefighters and medical personnel.