The Fourth of July weekend has ended, and Albuquerque Fire Rescue reported receiving 877 calls to the city’s 311 system related to fireworks overnight.
The AFR Fire Marshal’s Office issued 62 cease-and-desist orders during the holiday, more than the total number issued during the rest of the year before the Fourth of July. The department did not clarify whether all of the orders linked directly to fireworks complaints.
According to AFR, crews responded Saturday to one major structure fire and two wildland fires, including a bosque fire in the foothills. Officials have not determined whether fireworks played a role in igniting those fires.
In neighboring Sunland Park, fireworks sparked seven brush fires Saturday night. The largest burned about 1 acre in the 2000 block of Boy Scout Lane.
Over the past 24 hours, AFR also responded to multiple structure and wildland or vegetation fires, including a working residential structure fire and two significant wildland fires. At about 9:20 p.m., a ladder company responded to an area west of the Menaul Trailhead, where crews found a half-acre wildfire with flames reaching 4 to 6 feet high in grass and brush.
The fire threatened nearby homes, prompting AFR to bring additional resources to the scene. Firefighters contained the blaze within 20 minutes, and no injuries were reported.
AFR said it will continue heightened enforcement and patrols through the holiday period.
