Tucumcari fire chief resigns after being placed on leave

Tucumcari’s fire chief turned in his resignation last week after he had been placed on administrative leave earlier in the month.

City manager Paula Chacon said Monday that Tucumcari Fire & Rescue Chief Garrett Nash submitted his resignation to the city’s human relations department on Friday.

She said he gave no reasons for his stepping down.

Nash had been placed on paid administrative leave on May 2, pending an internal investigation.

Citing personnel matters, Chacon did not disclose why Nash was taken off duty.

Nash, reached by phone on Monday, declined to comment.

Nash had been with Tucumcari Fire & Rescue since 2020.

Chacon said Monday the city would advertise its opening for the fire chief position.

She said the city is coordinating with Quay County Fire Marshal Lucas Bugg and other nearby departments for fire protection.

The city’s fire department last month concluded a 90-day probation imposed by the New Mexico Fire Marshal’s Office due to failures of reporting to the National Fire Incident Reporting System.