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

Duplex Fire

AFD arrived quickly arrived on scene and found light smoke exiting the front door of the Duplex. The occupant was alerted  by the smoke alarms and self evacuated.

Crews immediately entered through the front door and found a fire above the floor heater. The fire was extinguished within 5 min.

Heat from the floor heater ignited paper products that were too close resulting in a fire.  A 3'X3' area in the living room above the floor heater suffered moderate fire damage. No injuries were reported from this fire.

Community Risk Message: Keep combustible materials at least 3 feet from any heating source.

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

AFD FF's Save Pizza Hut and Billy's Pub from Fire

AFD units were dispatched to a structure fire at 520am this morning to Pizza Hut located at 1020 Juan Tabo NE.

15 units and 39 FF's arrived minutes later to find smoke and flame coming from a window. The FF's forced the door, located the fire in the dining room and extinguished the fire within 5 min.

Crews worked quickly to extinguish the fire and in doing so, prevented the extension of the fire to the remaining areas of the Pizza Hut and Billy's Pub.

No structural damage was found to the Pizza Hut but only minimal fire and smoke damage noted in a small portion of the restaurant.  

The Pizza Hut will be closed today while AFD Fire Investigators determine the cause and origin of the fire.

No injuries were reported.

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

AFD Prevents Possible Gas Explosion During Mobile Home Fire

AFD quickly responded to a mobile home fire at 12931 Central Ave NE Space 66 at 7:00am this morning.

The first unit reported heavy smoke and fire being expelled from the floor of the single wide mobile home. All occupants safely evacuated prior to our arrival.

During the fire extinguishment, a gas leak was discovered by FF's in a separate area in the mobile home. The FF's prevented a possible explosion by quickly extinguishing the fire and containing it to that immediate area.

The fire cause and origin is unknown at this time but doesn't seem suspicious. No injuries were reported.

Red Cross is assisting the family of five with housing and necessities.



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