'They're very essential to our community': AFR donates two firetrucks to the Pueblo of Isleta

When Isleta Pueblo Fire Chief Leo Tafoya sent a letter to Albuquerque Fire Rescue on June 6 detailing his department’s need for new vehicles, he never could have imagined that a little over a month later he would be standing at the AFR Academy accepting the donation of two fire trucks.

But that is exactly what took place Friday during a ceremony involving the Pueblo of Isleta and the city of Albuquerque.

“I cannot believe that it moved this quickly,” Tafoya said. “I honestly did not expect them to be this generous.”

The two fire engines being donated are a 2005 and 2006 Pierce Dash, which have both served almost 20 years for AFR. Both are equipped with 500-gallon water tanks and 2,000-gallon-per-minute pumps. Prior to their donation, both of the engines were part of AFR’s reserve fleet, where they were still maintained by mechanics and pressed into action should another station’s truck be taken out of service.

The two engines will replace the lone fire engine operated by the Isleta Pueblo Fire Department.

“These engines are really going to help out response capabilities,” Tafoya said.

The addition of a second engine also will help Tafoya and the department get one step closer to their goal of opening a second firehouse on the west side of the pueblo.

“Our community has grown. We have almost 6,000 people and hundreds of homes, and we need to have this kind of emergency response,” Max Zuni, Isleta Pueblo governor, told the Journal.

Zuni thanked Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller and AFR Chief Emily Jaramillo for their support and cooperation during the donation process and stressed the importance of governments and communities working together to ensure public safety for all.

“All communities need to talk to each other and get support for first responders,” Zuni said. “They’re very essential to our community.”

The two fire engines are going to require a bit of maintenance before they can be pressed into service, but for what he was told about their condition, Tafoya is confident one can be up and running by the end of July.

The pueblo’s Fire Department is also going to send a staff member to AFR’s driving school to learn how to operate the new-to-the-pueblo fire trucks. That person then will train the rest of the department.

Once the trucks have been inspected and are deemed ready for action, all that will be left is to stick on the appropriate “Pueblo of Isleta Fire Department” decals and press them into service. For Tafoya, that day can’t come soon enough.

“I’m ready to polish these bad boys up instead of looking at them,” he said, laughing. “I’m grateful for everyone at AFR for being willing to help us out.”

Gino Gutierrez is the good news reporter at the Albuquerque Journal. If you have an idea for a good news story, you can contact him at goodnews@abqjournal.com or at 505-823-3940.