CUBERO, N.M. Cubero Volunteer Fire Dept. of Cubero, NM has received a donation of emergency drinking water from Anheuser- Busch to help keep its firefighters hydrated during wildfire response efforts. The donation, made in partnership with the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC), will provide critical hydration to first responders working long hours in extreme conditions.
On July 02, 2026, 2,300+ cans of water were delivered by Hensley Distributing Anheuser-Busch’s local wholesaler partner. The donation will help ensure firefighters have access to clean, safe drinking water while responding to wildfires and other emergencies where proper hydration is essential for safety and performance.
The Cubero VFD is located in the high plateau area of New Mexico and serves a rural community of 300 to 500 people depending on the day of the week (school). Vegetation ranges from grasses, brush, pinon-juniper to tall pine. The department runs approximately 200 calls/year, Fire and EMS combined. Wildfire cause, runs from high traffic along the Interstate road (I-40 dissects our district), human and natural causes; which have the potential to directly impact the safety and economy of the district and or the county.
“Extended emergency responses, especially during wildfire season, although the fire season is now a yearlong event, place significant physical demands on our firefighters, especially in our location of the high plateau area of New Mexico”, said Chief De Soto. “Having access to emergency drinking water helps protect their health, maintain their endurance, and keep them mission- ready when our community needs them most. Our county consists of six (6) other volunteer departments with the same type problems as Cubero. With this in mind, the Cubero VFD plans on sharing this bountiful grant with its sister departments in order to maximize its effectiveness. Our sister departments include Bluewater Village VFD, Candy Kitchen VFD, Cibola County Fire & EMS, El Morro VFD, Fence Lake VFD and Milan VFD. We are all extremely grateful to Anheuser-Busch and the National Volunteer Fire Council for providing resources that directly support firefighter safety and operational readiness.”
Anheuser-Busch has a longstanding tradition of providing support for disaster relief efforts dating back to 1906. Each year, its breweries in Cartersville, Georgia and Fort Collins, Colorado periodically pause beer production to produce emergency drinking water for times of need. Since 1988, Anheuser-Busch has donated more than 100 million cans of clean, safe drinking water for communities impacted by or preparing for disaster.
With an increased focus on disaster preparedness, Anheuser- Busch partnered with the NVFC in 2019 and, together with its wholesaler partners, has supported volunteer fire departments with nearly 12 million cans of emergency drinking water through over 3,700 deliveries across almost all 50 states.
The NVFC is the leading nonprofit association representing the interests of volunteer fire, EMS, and rescue services across the U.S., with a mission to support volunteer responders and the communities they serve.
To learn more about the Emergency Drinking Water for Wildland Firefighters program, visit www.nvfc.org/water.