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Fire engines lined the streets outside Pharr City Hall as families, friends and supporters waved small American flags waiting in anticipation for the return of their heroes who deployed to fight an inferno over 1,600 miles away from home.
On Tuesday, the city of Pharr celebrated the return of the Pharr Fire Department’s Battalion Chief Sergio Vasquez, Engineer Jesus Gonzalez and Engineer Carlos Cavazos who joined a 22-member group of South Texas firefighters known as the Alamo Strike Team.
Pharr Fire Department Battalion Chief Sergio Vasquez, Engineer Jesus Gonzalez, and Engineer Carlos Cavazos left the Valley on Saturday, Jan. 11, 2025, to fight wildfires in Los Angeles. (Courtesy: City of Pharr)That team was deployed to assist the state of California combat the historic wildfires Los Angeles residents have been enduring for weeks.
According to Pharr Fire Chief Pilar Rodriguez, about two dozen Pharr firefighters meet the requirement to be part of the Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System, a program that uses local resources in order to respond to statewide natural disasters.
The Pharr fire fighting trio arrived in another fire engine heading down South Cage Boulevard that turned onto West Cherokee Avenue.
A huge American flag hoisted up by another fire engine’s ladder flew over the cheering onlookers and families as they entered the fire station.
Vasquez’s daughter, 23-year-old Jasmine Vasquez, said she was excited seeing her dad finally come home after being gone for over two weeks.
“I’m really happy that he’s home safe,” Jasmine said. “I’m really proud of him for going out and helping the Alamo team.”
Jasmine added that it had been stressful knowing that her dad was in California helping fight the wildfires, but she understood what his job demanded of him.
“He wouldn’t be the chief if he wasn’t good at his job,” Jasmine added.
Pharr Fire Department Battalion Chief Sergio Vasquez waves from a fire engine during a welcome home ceremony Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025, in Pharr. (Delcia Lopez | dlopez@themonitor.com)Sergio, 46, said he had mixed feelings going to California while leaving his family behind but was also excited to go and help nonetheless.
Upon their arrival, Sergio said the people there couldn’t thank them enough. They were thanked at stores and when they were driving to and from their camp as people were grateful for their assistance.
He went on to describe what he saw once he arrived to help fight.
“It was pretty devastating,” Sergio explained. “It looked like a scene out of a movie … like it dropped a bomb and leveled all the structures everywhere … to where there was nothing left but rubble.”
According to Sergio, fighting a fire in the Rio Grande Valley is completely different than fighting one in California due to the terrain.
The Valley is flat compared to California where there’s rolling hills and mountainous terrain, which Sergio said was one of the main challenges they faced due to having to hike those areas.
“I did get a little bit winded, but I mean it’s nothing we can’t handle,” Sergio said. “We’ve been trained for it. We exercise everyday and we’re prepared for it.”
Both Sergio and his daughter were grateful for the city of Pharr for coming together and celebrating the return of these hometown heroes.
The next order of business for the Vasquez’s following the celebrations was dinner.
“Yeah, definitely, we’re going out to eat,” Jasmine laughed. “You know, I’m sure he misses the food over here.”
The post Valley firefighters return to celebration after battling California wildfires appeared first on MyRGV.com.
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