Wildland Fire Task Force

The city of Albuquerque is situated in a valley bordered on the east by the Sandia Mountains and on the west by a high desert mesa. The Rio Grande flows through the middle of the city and supports the Rio Grande Bosque—the largest stand of cottonwoods in the world. Open space, brush, and wildland are abundant in the area.

The primary role of the wildland fire task force is to suppress wildland fires occurring anywhere within the city, and to assist with wildland fire fighting in mutual aid areas. The task force includes personnel and apparatus from six fire stations that are located either by the Rio Grande Bosque, or on the east or west mesas. Personnel at these stations are specially trained in the tactics and equipment required for this type of fire fighting.

Task force members are trained to S-190 or S-290 levels and all AFD personnel are currently being trained to an awareness level - providing familiarity with wildland fire fighting tactics and equipment.

In addition to front-line emergency response equipment, the wildland task force is equipped with two brush trucks (with one capable of foam production) and two four-wheel drive all-terrain vehicles (complete with towing trailer). Task force crews are also equipped with personal protective equipment, 400 gpm portable drafting pumps, and hand tools designed for wildland or brush fire fighting.