San Benito firefighters work to put out hot spots following a grass fire that consumed an as-of-yet unknown amount of acres at the old San Benito Municipal Airport property. (Photo by Carlos Gonzales)
By MICHAEL RODRIGUEZ
Managing Editor
editor@sbnewspaper.com
San Benito police have reported a large brush or grass fire this morning.
According to reports, the fire is raging near the area of McCullough and Business 77, toward the City of San Benito’s Municipal Airport property, and continues to spread.
Assisting in attempts to extinguish the blaze are San Benito, Harlingen and Los Fresnos fire departments. More agencies have reportedly been dispatched to the scene for further assistance.
Much of the fire has been reportedly extinguished; however, as of 12:45 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 2, firefighters were still putting out hot spots.
San Benito Fire Marshal Henry Lopez, who has recently been expressing concern regarding the city’s number of firefighters, said at the scene of today’s fire that the department only had six men at its disposal and thus needed additional assistance.
City of San Benito officials have recently responded to said concerns, stating the number of firefighters employed by the municipality is sufficient and stressed that Lopez, or whoever assumes command of a fire, can call in off-duty San Benito firefighters when needed.
More information will be reported here, at www.sbnewspaper.com, as its made available to the News.
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START A VOULUNTEER FIREMAN RECRUTING DRIVE. LEAVE A LEGACY SHARE YOUR KNOWLEGE OF FIRE FIGHTING BRING IN HE NEW GENERATION OF FIREMAN
Well Henry, you got reprimanded and deserve it. Talk to your chief and that is all you can do. The media luvs to call you cause you are such a big mouth. You dont think who you are putting down. Oh and like hereitis said, you should put on your gear and help but you gained too much weight and it dont fit no more. Help dont put down the city.
I just saw Henry Lopez in the news again. Complaining about how many firefighters he has on a shift. I have a question…okay…many questions. Isn’t he a certified firefighter? Yes. He should be fighting fires! Not bad-mouthing the city through the media, again, in work clothes. Didn’t he already get fired for doing that? Google it…March 9, 2009 he was fired for violating policy because he was bad-mouthing his chief IN UNIFORM! Hasn’t he learned his lesson? He managed to get his job back.
Stop all this nonsense Henry. Your not making the city look bad. You are making the fire department look like a bunch of cry babies…….Kinda like Weslaco fire department. Get over it! The entire country as you know it is going through this financial crunch and other departments are losing employees. Henry Lopez, I think its time for u to retire. The city can hire 2 firefighters with your salary! If you really want to help the firefighters, this would be the PERFECT SOLUTION!
All I have been hearing is Henry Lopez complaining about how many men are on a shift. It makes sense to me that even if you had 10 guys out there you would still need to call the surrounding city fire depts..
I’m no S.B. local and don’t know this guy but that’s all I keep hearing from this guy. Why do you keep putting the city down? You are so lucky you have a job! It seems like he has been on the news alot lately. I can tell he is trying to make a point. Sounds kinda fishy to me.
What do you want Henry?? More firefighters? You know budgets are cut and you know that the city will NOT be hiring or adding more firefighters! Stop with the crying! Take care of the city, as you were hired to do!