Albuquerque Fire Rescue Crew Returns from California
After a two-week deployment, AFR is announcing the safe return of the New Mexico Strike Team that provided critical support in battling the devastating wildfires raging in California.
AFR joined multiple New Mexico Fire Departments to form a Strike Team that traveled to California to assist with the firefighting efforts in Los Angeles County. California made the request for resources and New Mexico was quick to answer. The Strike Team was made up of five firefighting resources that are assigned to a Strike Team Leader for quick deployments in a targeted area. This Strike Team was led by a member from Santa Fe City and was made up of resources from Albuquerque Fire Rescue, Bernalillo County Fire Rescue, Los Alamos County Fire and San Juan County Fire and Santa Fe City Fire.
AFR sent Engine 317, a Type 3 Brush Truck, staffed with four personnel from the Wildland Task Force. A Type 3 Brush Truck must carry at least 500 gallons of water, be able to flow 150 gallons per minute, carry 1000 feet of 1.5” hose and 500 feet of 1” hose. Engine 317 is a 2013 International Workstar built by KME Fire that is built on a 4-wheel drive chassis.
The New Mexico Strike Team is an assembly of Type 3 engines resourced through the state of New Mexico Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. Led by Strike Team Leader Nate Miller of the Santa Fe Fire Department and Trainee David Lawrence Cruz of Albuquerque Fire Rescue, the team was deployed to the Palisades Fire in Malibu, California. The team was comprised of members from Albuquerque Fire Rescue, San Juan County Fire Rescue, Los Alamos County Fire Department, Bernalillo County Fire Rescue and the City of Santa Fe Fire Department.
The New Mexico Team collaborated with CAL FIRE to provide critical structure protection for residential homes, enhance fire breaks, and address hotspots threatening control lines. In addition to these efforts, the team also engaged with residents, offering vital public information about available resources.
Throughout the deployment, the team embraced opportunities for training, focusing on leadership development and advancing the qualifications of our firefighters. Witnessing the extraordinary efforts of air resources and the bravery of hand crews was both inspiring and humbling. However, the devastation observed was beyond words, leaving the entire team deeply saddened.
“As we reflect on this experience, we are committed to gathering insights for potential improvements to prevent similar wildland-urban interface disasters across the entire state of New Mexico”, said Strike Team Member, AFR Lieutenant Eric De La Torre. “We recognize the urgent need to prepare for future threats, motivating us to enhance our readiness for the challenges ahead.”
“AFR continually steps up to help our neighbors in New Mexico, but our One Albuquerque spirit can extend beyond all borders and when it needs too,” said Mayor Tim Keller, “We are grateful to have all our firefighters back home, and will continue to support the efforts in California if needed.”
“It is already shaping up to be a very busy fire season and AFR’s Wildland Division is always ready to deploy to wherever they are needed,” said Fire Chief Emily Jaramillo. “As the scope of the California fires was realized AFR began making preparations to deploy and waited for resource requests to come in. This has been a historic and catastrophic fire event and AFR is committed to provide whatever resources we can.”