Fire chief: Rio Rancho Bosque to remain closed after fires

The Bosque in Rio Rancho is closed until further notice.

There were no plans to close the bosque in Albuquerque despite several fires that affected the wooded area along the Rio Grande in Rio Rancho over the weekend, Albuquerque Fire Rescue spokesman Jason Fejer said in an email Monday.

In a May 20 press conference, Rio Rancho Fire Chief James DeFillippo explained Sunday's fires were started by man but that the investigation hasn't revealed a cause and that they can't call it arson yet.

"We got a call for a fire in the Bosque at approximately 6:30 (Sunday) night. When our crews arrived on scene, they did notice that the Bosque was on fire and there was a total of five separate fires that were burning simultaneously. Over the course of about eight acres of the Bosque. Our crews were able to initiate initial attack with the help of multiple agencies that came out to assist our fire rescue," he said.

The fires, he said, spanned about 8 acres but that only about 2 acres were actually burned. No one was injured and no structures were damaged.

Albuquerque Fire Rescue, Rio Rancho Fire Rescue, town of Bernalillo Fire Department, Corrales Fire Department, Cochiti Pueblo, Sandoval Fire Department, State Forestry and Rio Rancho Police Department were among the agencies responding to the fires.

"With the help of all those agencies, we were able to coordinate and attack, keep that fire from spreading. We had those units on scene until about two o'clock this morning, were then throughout the evening, we're able continue our efforts, monitoring the fire and keeping it from spreading," DeFillippo added.

"Due to the expected high winds high temperatures and low humidity the next day, several contingency lines using bulldozers were cut around the fire to create fire brakes as an added measure of protection against any further flare ups," AFR said in a Sunday release.

The worry today, DeFillippo says, is the red flag weather in the area.

"It is a red flag day, so estimated winds of potentially up to 60 miles per hour this afternoon. With the amount of fire that was in the Bosque and the fire that was in the undergrowth of the trees, we were worried about smoldering and the potential for spread," he said.

DeFillippo says the department has more than 50 firefighters to contain the fire on scene as of Monday. He added the Bosque will be patrolled by RRFR for the next couple of days.

"We hope to get the Bosque opened back up to the public by the weekend," he said.

The weather is expected to remain dry through the week with temps in the low to mid-80s and humidity less than 10%, National Weather Service of Albuquerque meteorologist Todd Shoemake told the Journal.

"This is not really a great recipe for ongoing fires," Shoemake said. "It's usually pretty conducive to spreading things a little bit."

In past years, the bosque in Albuquerque has been closed due to fire danger. In 2021, firefighters extinguished at least five fires along the Rio Grande in Albuquerque and Los Lunas.

Bosque restrictions are not unprecedented during extreme fire danger. In the summer of 2011, the city of Albuquerque completely closed the bosque to the public.

No suspect had been identified at the time of the press conference, and RRFR and RRPD are asking people to keep an eye out for suspicious behavior and call 911 if they see anything.

"Definitely no fireworks, no campfires are allowed in the Bosque. Anybody that looks like they're suspicious walking with any incendiary devices," he said.

While burning is prohibited completely on red flag days, any kind of burning on the Bosque is prohibited all the time because it is so dry.

"We do like people using the Bosque. That is our best eyes and ears for it. But for right now, it's best just to keep everybody clear," DeFillippo said.

There are also crews working to clear dead trees with chainsaws.

The fire departments in the metro area will patrol the Bosque through the summer, when New Mexico heat is at its hottest and the wind makes conditions dryer.

Gregory R.C. Hasman of the Albuquerque Journal contributed to this report.