Firefighters responded to a report of smoke coming from the water pump station on Redondo Drive near Yale Boulevard at about 5 p.m. Sunday.
As smoke poured from the building's windows, three city fire trucks and a unit from the Albuquerque Hazardous Materials Response Team arrived on the scene.
"A gear shaft overheated and caused a motor to burn out," said Albuquerque Fire Department Deputy Chief Bob Halton. "Our guys were able to turn it off and cool it down."
Halton said there was no fire in the building. As smoke filled the nearby intersection of Redondo and Yale, UNM Police Department units closed off the surrounding area.
Halton added that employees of the Albuquerque Water Department immediately arrived and showed firefighters where to shut-off the building's electricity.
"Everything is well in hand and should be fixed by tomorrow," Halton said.
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Lawrence Rodriguez, Albuquerque water utilities supervisor, said the pump station sends water from the Yale Reservoir, located on campus, to the Ridgecrest Ave. water pump station at Central and Moon Street.
Rodriguez added that the UNM station is due to be changed out, though he said he is not sure when.
"It's probably one of the oldest in the city," he said.
