Today, Albuquerque Fire Rescue announced its participation in a Strike Team with multiple New Mexico Fire Departments. The Strike Team will travel to California to assist with firefighting efforts in Los Angeles County. California requested assistance, and New Mexico promptly responded. A Strike Team comprises five firefighting resources assigned to a Strike Team Leader for rapid deployment in targeted areas. This Strike Team will be led by a member of Santa Fe City Fire and includes resources from Albuquerque Fire Rescue, Bernalillo County Fire Rescue, Los Alamos County Fire, San Juan County Fire, and Santa Fe City Fire.
AFR is sending 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.
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These resources are currently convoying out to California. They will receive assignments on arrival and the deployment will be for two weeks. Cal-Fire is in command of this event. Crews will be rotated out if resources are needed beyond two weeks.
“AFR’s Wildland Division is always ready to deploy to wherever they are needed,” said Fire Chief Emily Jaramillo. “As soon as the request for resources came in from California to New Mexico, AFR filled their portion of the request and began making preparations to deploy. This is a historic and catastrophic fire event and AFR is committed to filling requests if possible.”
Governor Newsom has asked the firefighters to bring their own water with them, since CA wisely sent all their extra water to the river smelts.