LAS CRUCES, N.M. -- After several fires this year in Dona Ana County, commissioners have found a need to increase the staff at their 16 fire districts.

For six months, the county has employed six firefighters to help the staff at the county's busiest stations.

This year volunteers at the busiest stations were stretched to the max.

“As the Radium Springs wildfire showed, we have northern districts that get busy from time to time,” said Jess Williams, county spokesman.

Saturday the fire marshal's office hosts a physical training session for those interested in one of the new positions with the county.

Candidates will take the actual test firefighters must take and pass to be hired.

“They will be lifting 50 pound hose packs up a flight of stairs, carefully placing it on the ground then they will lift a hose roll with some rope,” said Eric Crespin, assistant county fire marshal.

Candidates will also simulate ventilating a roof, and carrying a 185-pound mannequin.

After several trailer fires this year, volunteers can already see a difference.

“We have noticed that response times have decreased. Everybody knows that when that happens the overall outcome is positive,” said Crespin.

“It's good that they have more people to go and do their job and help the other people in the county,” said Jacob Chamberlain, a Dona Ana County resident.

Crespin said most candidates are already volunteers and have gone through most of the training already.

“As Dona Ana County grows, we're approaching or we may have surpassed 200,000 in population, these volunteer fire departments were being stretched very thin by the number of calls,” said Williams

The county is planning on putting the new hires on the payroll sometime in May.