House Fire

AFD responded to a house fire at the 600 block of Palomas NE. On arrival, units reported extensive flame and black smoke exiting the east and west side windows. The fire was so intense, it created a 60' plume of smoke that could be seen from miles away.

The two occupants self evacuated the home prior to our arrival and were transported in stable condition to UNM-H with facial burns.

The fire was extinguished within 10 min. Extensive fire and smoke damage was found throughout the home .The fire is currently under investigation by AFD.

Community Risk Message:

-Make sure your smoke alarms are working and change the batteries twice a year during daylight savings time.

-Practice a home evacuation plan every month.

-If a fire occurs, get out immediately and call 911.
Melissa Romero
Public Information Officer
Albuquerque Fire Department
11500 Sunset Gardens SW
Albuquerque, NM 87121
505-768-9317

FF's Save Apartment Building from Fire

AFD units were dispatched to 500 block of Mesilla SE last night at 1045pm to an apartment fire.

The first units on scene reported heavy smoke and flame exiting a 2nd story apartment window. All occupants from the 4 unit apartment building were safely evacuated with the help of AFD. A dog was also saved by fire fighter's.

A 57 year old male was transported to UNM-H in stable condition with 1st and 2nd degree burns to his back and arms.

The fire was contained to one apartment and was quickly extinguished by Engine 5. The apartment suffered extensive fire and smoke damage. All occupants of the apartment building were displaced and assisted with temporary housing. 

The fire cause and origin is under investigation by AFD.
Melissa Romero
Public Information Officer
Albuquerque Fire Department
11500 Sunset Gardens SW
Albuquerque, NM 87121
505-768-9317

FF's Quickly Extinguished House Fire

AFD responded to a house fire at 1009 Santa Ana Ave SE this morning at 10:00am. AFD arrived minutes later to find heavy smoke and flame blowing out the front window.

The occupant (woman) heard the smoke alarm and noticed the fire in the office as she exited the bathroom.

She and her elderly mother self-evacuated.  The mother was transported to the hospital with chest pain but is in stable condition.

The fire was extinguished within 15 min. Heavy fire and smoke damage to the office and living room and smoke damage throughout the home.

The fire cause and origin is under investigation.

The smoke alarms alerted the occupants to evacuate and likely prevented injury and/or death.

Safety Tips:

Make sure you have working smoke alarms and change the batteries twice a year during daylight savings.

Plan and practice an evacuation on a monthly basis with your family so everyone knows when and where to go if a fire happens. 

For more safety tips, go to cabq.gov/fire
Melissa Romero
Public Information Officer
Albuquerque Fire Department
11500 Sunset Gardens SW
Albuquerque, NM 87121
505-768-9317

Royal Crown Fire Update

AFD with the help of a KAFB Ladder worked through the night and made tremendous progress on the extinguishment of the fire.

AFD will be rotating Engines and Ladders throughout the day to extinguish hot spots. 

Ice melt has been spread on the neighboring streets surrounding the complex to prevent falls from the standing water.

Red Cross assisted 21 residents at the Highland HS shelter overnight. Red Cross is now gathering information from the occupants to determine temporary housing.

AFD Investigators are on scene to continue their investigation into the cause and origin of the fire.

Gibson westbound from Truman to Washington remains closed but east bound has been re-opened.
Melissa Romero
Public Information Officer
Albuquerque Fire Department
11500 Sunset Gardens SW
Albuquerque, NM 87121
505-768-9317

Royal Crown Fire

Albuquerque Firefighters are currently preparing for a cold weather fire fight into the night at an apartment complex on the city's Southeast side.

Meanwhile, two firefighters injured in the blaze have been released from the hospital and are doing fine.

AFD responded to the Royal Crown Apartment Complex at 4801 Gibson SE at 3:00pm. First units on scene reported a heavy amount of smoke and flames on the interior of the North side of the complex burning from the 2nd floor extending to the 3rd floor.

Firefighters entered the front door and advanced a hose line to search for occupants and extinguish the fire. Engine 13 firefighters rescued two occupants from one apartment. A cat was also saved by Firefighters and is doing well at Animal Welfare's East Side Shelter. Animal Welfare found a microchip in the cat, has identified the cat owner and is trying to locate them at this time.

Early in the fight, two firefighters fell through fire weaken floors. The first firefighter fell from the third story to the second. The second firefighter fell from the second floor to the first while trying to render aide to his fallen comrade. The two firefighters were transported to UNM with leg injuries. One of the firefighters had minor burns to the ear. Both have been treated, released and are resting at home.

At 3:40pm, the Incident Commander made the decision to defensively fight the fire from the outside and firefighters were evacuated from the interior of the building.

A 3rd Alarm was called because of the injured firefighters and heavy fire conditions. There are currently 45 firefighters on scene fighting the blaze. Kirtland Air Force Base Fire Department is assisting with crew rotation by providing a ladder truck and crew.

In all, there are 18 fire trucks on scene. Firefighters are still fighting the fire. The gas and power was shut off in the area. Firefighters are coordinating the restoration of gas and electric utilities to nearby homes with utility companies. Because of the freezing temperature.

AFD has activated it's incident support team to provide shelter, hot food and water to firefighters working in freezing temperatures with the assistance of the American Red Cross.

The city's Transit Department has provided two buses - one for firefighters to warm up, the other to transport displaced fire victims to Highland High School, where the Red Cross has set up a shelter.

There are about 75 people who reside in the 47 unit complex. About 25 were transported by city bus to the Red Cross Shelter. The structure is more than likely a complete loss with several collapsed areas. The cause and it's origin is still under investigation. 

AFD expects to remain on scene until late tomorrow morning and Gibson will be closed east of washington and west of San Mateo until fire suppression operations or reduced
Melissa Romero
Public Information Officer
Albuquerque Fire Department
11500 Sunset Gardens SW
Albuquerque, NM 87121
505-768-9317

Royal Crown Fire Update

Both FF's were released from UNM with right knee injuries and are doing well.

Melissa Romero
Public Information Officer
Albuquerque Fire Department
11500 Sunset Gardens SW
Albuquerque, NM 87121
505-768-9317

Apartment fire

AFD responded to the Royal Crown Apartment Complex at 4801 Gibson SE at 3:00pm. First units on scene reported a tremendous amount of smoke and flame on the North side of the complex burning from the 2nd floor extending to the 3rd floor.

Units entered the front door with a hose line to search for occupants and the fire. Engine 13 crew rescued two uninjured occupants from one apartment. A cat was also saved by FF's and is doing well.

Shortly after, four FF's fell through the 2nd story floor and landed on the first. Two FF's were transported to UNM with both leg injuries and one with minor burns to the ear. Both are in stable condition.

At 3:40pm, the Commander made the decision to fight the fire at from the outside, FF were immediately evacuated.

A 3rd Alarm was called because of the heavy fuel load and large complex. 75+ FF's are on scene fighting this fire.

The fire continues to burn with 1/2 of the complex affected by fire.

21 residents of the 47 unit complex were transported to the Red Cross shelter at Highland High School to keep the residents out of the cold. 

Melissa Romero
Public Information Officer
Albuquerque Fire Department
11500 Sunset Gardens SW
Albuquerque, NM 87121
505-768-9317

FF's Revive Dog at House Fire

AFD arrived quickly to a house fire on the 800 block of Adams SE at 323pm this afternoon. The first arriving crews found heavy smoke coming from the inside of the home and black smoke coming from the crawl space vents.

The occupant evacuated and decided to go back in the home to try to save her dog. A neighbor told crews on scene that the occupant was inside. The first priority is life safety so R-3 entered the home to search for the woman and found a dog laying by the door. They completed the search and didn't find the woman but rescued the dog from the hazardous conditions.
The unconscious and unresponsive dog was given oxygen by Rescue 3 crew via a pet mask and came to. Animal Services transported the dog to a vet for observation.

The woman had no injuries and was at a neighbors house.

The fire was contained to part of the living room and kitchen floor.
The fire was caused by a malfunctioning floor heater.
Melissa Romero
Public Information Officer
Albuquerque Fire Department
11500 Sunset Gardens SW
Albuquerque, NM 87121
505-768-9317

Bonita House Fire

AFD was dispatched at 1230pm to the 10000 block of Sierra Bonita NE to a house fire. Engine and Rescue 16 arrived on scene and found heavy black smoke coming from the front living room window.

Crews entered the front door and found heavy fire and smoke in the living room and kitchen area. They extinguished the fire within 7 min.

Extensive fire damage to the living room and kitchen was found after the fire was out.

Five occupants saw the smoke and self evacuated prior to our arrival. Two occupants were treated by Rescue 16 on scene with minor smoke inhalation.

No firefighter injuries and the cause is under investigation by AFD.


Melissa Romero
Public Information Officer
Albuquerque Fire Department
11500 Sunset Gardens SW
Albuquerque, NM 87121
505-768-9317