KAFB firefighters respond to ABQ fire, support community Published Oct. 7, 2020 377th Air Base Wing Public Affairs KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. -- Firefighters with the 377th Civil Engineer Squadron responded to a fire at Friedman Recycling in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Sept. 29, 2020, as part of a mutual aid agreement to support the Albuquerque Fire Department. The Mutual Aid Agreement, stated in Air Force Instruction 32-2001, allows Kirtland Air Force Base, fire and emergency services and local fire departments to provide support as needed during emergencies. “When we received the request for assistance and were told of burning plastics, we knew that our foam would play a crucial role,” said Jaime Jimenez, 377th CES installation fire chief. “We responded with a vehicle designed to combat aircraft fires, a water tanker, command vehicle and foam trailer.” Jimenez said that six of Kirtland’s firefighters responded to the fire and provided crucial support during the emergency. The team stayed at the site for six hours until the fire was under control. The fire was fully extinguished by the Albuquerque Fire Department in the evening. “Although we work on Kirtland, we are members of the community,” said Jimenez. “We are partners, and fighting this fire together emphasizes that.”