Albuquerque Fire Rescue Crew Returns from Two-Week Deployment in California

Albuquerque –

Following a two-week deployment, Albuquerque Fire Rescue is pleased to announce the safe return of the New Mexico Strike Team. This team provided invaluable support in combating the catastrophic wildfires that have been raging in California.

Albuquerque Fire Rescue collaborated with several New Mexico Fire Departments to establish a Strike Team that deployed to California to provide support in the firefighting operations within Los Angeles County. California had requested assistance, and New Mexico promptly responded. The Strike Team consisted of five firefighting resources, each under the command of a Strike Team Leader for rapid deployment to specific areas. This Strike Team was led by a representative from Santa Fe City and comprised resources from Albuquerque Fire Rescue, Bernalillo County Fire Rescue, Los Alamos County Fire, San Juan County Fire, and Santa Fe City Fire.

AFR dispatched Engine 317, a Type 3 Brush Truck, staffed with four personnel from the Wildland Task Force. A Type 3 Brush Truck is equipped with a minimum capacity of 500 gallons of water, a flow rate of 150 gallons per minute, and the ability to carry 1000 feet of 1.5” hose and 500 feet of 1” hose. Engine 317 is a 2013 International Workstar manufactured by KME Fire, constructed on a 4-wheel drive chassis.

The New Mexico Strike Team is a specialized unit composed of Type 3 fire engines, resourced through the New Mexico Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. The team is commanded by Strike Team Leader Nate Miller of the Santa Fe Fire Department and Trainee David Lawrence Cruz of Albuquerque Fire Rescue. The team was dispatched to the Palisades Fire in Malibu, California. The team comprises members from various fire departments, including 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 firebreaks, and address hotspots threatening control lines. Furthermore, the team engaged with residents, providing vital public information regarding available resources.

Throughout the deployment, the team diligently seized opportunities for training, prioritizing leadership development and enhancing the qualifications of our firefighters. Witnessing the extraordinary efforts of air resources and the unwavering bravery of hand crews was both inspiring and humbling. Nevertheless, the devastation witnessed was beyond comprehension, profoundly affecting the entire team’s emotional well-being.

“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.”

“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.”