A makeshift tarp tent stands among debris, bicycles and a solar panel at a Bosque encampment before crews cleared the site. (Courtesy Bernalillo County)
A makeshift tarp tent stands among debris, bicycles and a solar panel at a Bosque encampment before crews cleared the site. (Courtesy Bernalillo County)

Author

By Jesse Jones, The Paper. — Mattresses, tents and scorched brush piled up along the Rio Grande this month as crews worked through Burque’s Bosque between Rio Bravo Boulevard and Interstate 40, clearing fire hazards from the river corridor during a historically dry summer. The third annual, multiagency cleanup wrapped up this week after crews cleared 74 sites and hauled away more than 16 tons of debris.

This year’s cleanup uncovered 31 sites showing signs of fire and 34 with evidence of drug use, according to a Bernalillo County news release. Firefighters have warned that dry timber, thick brush and homeless encampments have increased the risk of dangerous wildfires along the Middle Rio Grande.

The inside of a tent at a Bosque encampment, filled with bedding, supplies and trash before crews removed the encampment, cleared debris and thinned surrounding brush. (Courtesy Bernalillo County)
The inside of a tent at a Bosque encampment, filled with bedding, supplies and trash before crews removed the encampment, cleared debris and thinned surrounding brush. (Courtesy Bernalillo County)

“All the debris removed and every site we addressed directly reduces the risk of fire in the bosque,” BCFR Chief Zach Lardy said in the release. “I’m proud of the collaborative work across all agencies and grateful to the crews who dedicated their time to making the bosque safer for everyone.”

The effort brought together Bernalillo County Fire & Rescue, Bernalillo County Planning and Development Services, Animal Care Services, Behavioral Health, Parks, Recreation and Open Space, the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office, the City of Albuquerque Open Space Division, the City of Albuquerque Solid Waste Department and the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District.

  • A makeshift tarp tent stands among debris, bicycles and a solar panel at a Bosque encampment before crews cleared the site. (Courtesy Bernalillo County)
  • Brush and fallen branches cover a former Bosque encampment site after crews removed a shelter and debris. (Courtesy Bernalillo County)
  • A blue dome tent stands in the Bosque, surrounded by plastic sheeting and personal belongings. (Courtesy Bernalillo County)
  • The Bosque site after crews removed the tent and personal belongings, leaving an open patch of dirt. (Courtesy Bernalillo County)
  • A gray-and-white tent stands in the Bosque, with clothing and personal belongings scattered along its side. (Courtesy Bernalillo County)
  • The Bosque site after crews removed the tent, cleared debris and thinned surrounding brush. (Courtesy Bernalillo County)
  • A shelter constructed from tree branches is surrounded by trash bags, plastic bins, household items and a canopy frame in the Bosque. (Courtesy Bernalillo County)
  • An open case containing a syringe and rusted hardware sits among rope and tent poles left behind at a Bosque encampment. (Courtesy Bernalillo County)

Share this story and start a conversation

Jesse Jones is a reporter covering local government and news for The Paper. through a local journalism fellowship from NM Reports.

Leave a comment

Leave a Reply