Public Safety Notice from the Office of the County Fire Marshal

Colfax County Fire Marshal’s Office

230 North 3rd Street Raton, NM 87740

3/8/2026

Public Safety Notice from the Office of the County Fire Marshal

To the residents of our community,

I would like to acknowledge the recent notice issued by RPS, our local electricity

provider, regarding the upcoming planned power outage in areas they serve. On behalf of

the county, I would like to thank RPS for their continued work maintaining our

electrical infrastructure and for providing advance notice to residents, so everyone

has time to prepare.

Planned maintenance like this is an important part of keeping our community safe.

Electrical systems require regular inspection, repair, and upgrades to remain reliable. In

areas like ours, this work is also critical in reducing wildfire risks associated with

damaged or downed power lines. Across the western United States, several major fires

have been linked to electrical infrastructure failures. For example, investigators

determined that the 2018 Camp Fire in California was ignited by a failed transmission

line. Incidents like this highlight why proactive maintenance and system improvements

are so important for public safety.

Many residents have asked why the outage is scheduled during nighttime hours rather

than during the day. In most cases, utilities schedule work overnight because electrical

demand is significantly lower, which allows sections of the grid to be safely isolated

while crews perform repairs. Lower demand also helps crews restore power more

smoothly once the work is completed.

Nighttime work is also safer for utility crews and the public for several reasons. Traffic

volumes are much lower overnight, reducing the risk of workers operating near roadways

and intersections. Cooler nighttime temperatures also reduce heat stress for workers

wearing protective equipment and working on electrical infrastructure. In addition, fewer

daytime activities and construction operations around the electrical system allow crews to

maintain better control of the work area and focus on completing the maintenance safely

and efficiently.

While the outage is temporary, residents are encouraged to prepare in advance for the

approximately 12-hour interruption in power. Some helpful preparation steps include:

 Charge cell phones, medical devices, and backup batteries ahead of time.

 Have flashlights or battery-powered lanterns available.

 Avoid using candles when possible due to fire risk.

Phone: 575-445-8931 Cell: 575-447-1639 Fax: 575-445-7154