The Albuquerque Police Department (APD) is significantly increasing its use of drone technology to monitor the Rio Grande Bosque, a move prompted by a recent surge in suspicious fires and ongoing extreme heat conditions that have escalated fire risk across the city.
During a press conference held Tuesday, Mayor Tim Keller and APD Chief Harold Medina explained the role drones are now playing in safeguarding Albuquerque’s vital open space. This initiative follows a period earlier this month where the Bosque experienced three consecutive days of fires, which investigators believe were intentionally set. APD’s rapid response efforts led to an arrest in connection with one of these incidents.
“We’ve experienced record heat this season, and that’s a dangerous combination when it comes to fire conditions in the Bosque,” Keller said. “We’re using every tool available to prevent future fires, combat criminal activity and if a fire does pop up, we have the capabilities to detect that and respond rapidly.”
The expanded drone program enables APD to monitor large and often inaccessible areas of the Bosque in real time. When drones detect smoke, heat signatures or suspicious activity from above, Open Space officers are immediately dispatched to investigate on the ground. The primary objective is early intervention, aiming to prevent potential fires from spreading or to address criminal activity before it escalates. Members of the National Guard are also assisting in operating the drones and analyzing the captured video footage.
“This is a game changer for our department,” Medina said. “Drones are giving us eyes in the sky and allowing us to respond faster and smarter. They are now an essential tool in our crime-fighting and public safety toolbox.”
Medina said that drone technology is also proving instrumental in helping APD gather evidence, identify patterns of illegal activity and deter crime throughout the Bosque area.
This city-wide drone initiative is part of a broader effort to modernize policing and leverage advanced technology to enhance public safety. City leaders anticipate that as the program develops, its application will extend beyond fire prevention to include more comprehensive proactive policing and support for criminal investigations.
The City of Albuquerque encourages the public to report any suspicious activity or signs of fire by calling 911 for emergencies or (505)-242-COPS for non-emergencies.
I live just west of the bosque–north of I-40. From my back yard, I can walk down through the bosque to the river’s edge. Most of the time, news articles in the newspaper and TV news mention “the bosque” without being specific as to the particular area. Please be more specific as to specific area. The bosque is miles long through Albuquerque (east and west of the river) and issues relevant to one part may not be relevant to the entire area.
I wonder why they don’t find it economically viable to install a customized sprinkles controlled manually by the fire authorities.
Surely a few well placed units would be helpful and save a lot of resources.
Maybe even the river could be a water source with some help from engineers…
Drones and the many calls for service provide a cost base for considering sprinkler options.