Albuquerque Fire Department
Bernalillo, New Mexico
Encryption Details
Verified Talkgroup Data
Verification Status
We do have per-talkgroup data for Albuquerque Fire Department from the RadioReference API, and used it to set the encryption scope shown above — but no additional human-reviewed source (a live feed check or a dated news account) has been recorded for this record, so treat it as a data-quality correction rather than an independently confirmed verification. Check the live RadioReference database directly for current status.
If you monitor Albuquerque Fire Department directly or have more current information, the fastest way to fix this is to update the RadioReference Wiki entry — our data pulls from there and from the RadioReference API on a regular refresh cycle.
Bernalillo County Context
Bernalillo County is a mixed picture: 2 of 5 agencies we track here are fully encrypted (40%), which means some neighboring departments are still audible on a scanner.
See every agency we track in Bernalillo County → County encryption overview →
What This Means
This agency is listed in our database as encrypting all of its radio communications, including routine dispatch. The listing is unverified — confirm current status on the live RadioReference database.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Albuquerque Fire Department radio encrypted?
Albuquerque Fire Department is listed in our records with P25 AES-256 encryption — a listing we haven't yet verified against live talkgroup data. This agency is listed in our database as encrypting all of its radio communications, including routine dispatch. The listing is unverified — confirm current status on the live RadioReference database.
Can I listen to Albuquerque Fire Department on a police scanner?
Likely not, if the listing is accurate: our database lists Albuquerque Fire Department as fully encrypted using P25 AES-256, which no consumer scanner can decode. The listing is unverified — check the live RadioReference database for current status.
Why do agencies like Albuquerque Fire Department encrypt their radio?
Departments typically point to officer safety and operational security. Neither claim tends to come with evidence specific to Bernalillo County; what's verifiable is what's lost — journalists can't monitor fire department activity in real time, and coordination with agencies that stay unencrypted gets harder.
Can Bernalillo County reverse the encryption decision?
Yes. Encryption is a policy choice made by department leadership or elected officials, not a technical requirement, so it can be reversed the same way. Public pressure, city council advocacy, and organized local coalitions have reversed encryption decisions elsewhere.
What can I do about Albuquerque Fire Department encryption?
Contact the officials who oversee Albuquerque Fire Department's budget directly and ask why full encryption was chosen over partial alternatives. Pair that with a FOIA request for recordings and policy records, and look for an existing coalition in Bernalillo County, or start one, since agencies respond differently to organized, sustained pressure than to individual complaints.