Tagged News

• New virus relief policies to protect firefighters not available at all Valley cities Play Video

  April 14, 2020 7:37 PM

  WESLACO - A new policy in Mission protects employees if they get infected with the coronavirus. On Monday night, Mission city council asked the city manager to draft an administrative leave policy for any work-related COVID-19 incident that will cover all city employees, including first responders. City officials... more »

• Valley fire officials report increase in home incidents Play Video

  March 30, 2020 6:56 PM

  EDINBURG – Many people working from home are using electronics like laptops more often than they normally would. And fire officials report they’re seeing an uptick of incidents at homes. Edinburg Fire Chief Shawn Snider says one fire they went to this past week was actually caused by a... more »

• Investigation into House Fire in McAllen Underway Play Video

  January 1, 2020 5:26 PM

  MCALLEN – An investigation is underway in McAllen after a fire broke out overnight. McAllen Fire Department received a call around 1 a.m. Wednesday. Fire officials are still trying to figure out how exactly the fire started, but told CHANNEL 5 NEWS no one was injured. The house... more »

• Cameron County Child Injured after Being Hit by Stray Bullet Play Video

  January 1, 2020 5:04 PM

  BROWNSVILLE – A child was injured by a stray bullet in Cameron County. Details are limited. It happened during New Year’s celebratory gunfire, according to the Brownsville Fire Department’s assistant chief, Cesar Pedraza. A 2-year-old was hit in the back by a bullet and the parents transported the... more »

• Weslaco Fire Official Advises Safety Precautions When Handling Fireworks Play Video

  December 27, 2019 6:28 PM

  WESLACO – Many people are getting ready to celebrate the new year with fireworks, but those fireworks themselves could potentially crash the party. Lieutenant Rich Stubbs from the Weslaco Fire Department says over the years with emergency calls they're had, half are injuries to children are from improper firework... more »

• Progreso Fire Department Respond to Business Engulfed in Flames Play Video

  December 17, 2019 9:15 PM

  PROGRESO – Fire crews are at the scene of a blaze at a business in Progreso. It happened at a fruit stand south of FM 1015. The business owners live next door. Watch the video above for more infomration. more »

• New Mobile App to Help Locate Working Fire Hydrants in Falfurrias Play Video

  December 12, 2019 6:31 PM

  FALFURRIAS – Soon, the Falfurrias Fire Department will be able to locate working hydrants using a mobile app. The Falfurrias Fire Department has been identifying the location and status of each fire hydrant and placing that information into an app, which will be useful for them but also for... more »

• Valley Fire Official: Take Proper Precautions When Setting Up Holiday Lights on Home Play Video

  December 3, 2019 6:43 PM

  WESLACO – It’s a popular scene this time of year. Ladders come out of the garage to help homeowners light up their home for the holidays. Anthony Rios says it’s a tradition in his family, but he dodged a bullet this year. He put up Christmas lights without using... more »

• Valley Families Grateful for Edinburg Cares Turkey Drive Play Video

  November 25, 2019 5:07 PM

  EDINBURG – With only a few days from Thanksgiving, many families in the Rio Grande Valley are feeling grateful for a small gesture from the community. The Edinburg police and fire departments gathered at the Edinburg Parks and Recreation area for the Edinburg Cares Drive. They are distributing... more »

• American Red Cross Helps Residents Install Free Smoke Detectors Play Video

  November 16, 2019 11:23 PM

  WESLACO - The American Red Cross and the Weslaco Fire Department helped residents install free smoke detectors inside their homes Saturday. Over the past five years, the American Red Cross has worked toward a goal of reducing the number of fire deaths and injuries by 25 percent. Weslaco... more »

• Valley Fire Official Urging Safety Precautions When Using Space Heaters Play Video

  November 11, 2019 5:53 PM

  EDINBURG – As temperatures are expected to dip into the 30s across the Rio Grande Valley on Monday night, fire officials say it’s time to consider safety when it comes to space heaters. An appliance expert says she makes sure customers know what they’re buying before they go home... more »

• Alamo Flea Market Partially Re-Opens Following Fire Play Video

  October 16, 2019 12:00 PM

  ALAMO – The Alamo flea market is back open following a fire Tuesday afternoon. Firefighters from several different cities took several hours getting the area back under control. The fire did not last long, but the investigation is underway. Management at the market says for now the... more »

• Pharr Set to Open New State of the Art Emergency Communications Facility Play Video

  October 9, 2019 5:31 PM

  PHARR – Pharr officials say the new communications center will cut down on 9-1-1 response times. Right now, the 9-1-1 dispatch and emergency operations center handles police, fire and emergency medical service emergencies from three separate buildings making dispatch times longer. That will all change with the new... more »

• Authorities Respond to House Fire near Elsa Possibly Ignited by Lightning Play Video

  September 4, 2019 11:20 AM

  NEAR ELSA – Authorities in Hidalgo County are investigating a possible lightning strike fire that destroyed a home near Elsa. Firefighters were called out Wednesday morning to a home on FM 88 and Mile 14. Officials told CHANNEL 5 NEWS no one was in the home and the... more »

• Harlingen City Officials Issue Warning over Fraudulent Phone Calls Play Video

  July 20, 2019 4:11 PM

  HARLINGEN- Officials with the city of Harlingen are warning residents about fraudulent phone calls. They say residents are receiving the calls from someone claiming to be with the Harlingen Fire Department. The calls appear to come from a local number. The person on the other line is... more »

• Donna Firefighter Rescues Dog Play Video

  July 13, 2019 7:02 PM

  DONNA - A Donna pet owner was reunited with their four-legged friend Saturday morning. Donna Fire Deputy Chief Julio Munoz tells CHANNEL 5 NEWS they were called out to an irrigation canal near 10th and Hester Avenue around 10 A.M. Saturday. When they arrived the husky... more »

• Fire Crews Monitor Hotspots after Sebastian Home Engulfed in Flames Play Video

  June 28, 2019 12:06 PM

  SEBASTIAN – Firefighters are on the scene of a house fire in Sebastian that started a few hours ago. It happened just off Garcia Street where a fire broke out and completely destroyed the home. Firefighters received the call just before 10 a.m. Friday. Crews from Lyford,... more »

• Law Enforcement Warns on Dangers of Swimming in Canals Play Video

  June 17, 2019 6:36 PM

  MISSION – Canals are found throughout the Rio Grande Valley. With the hot temperatures, going for a dip might be tempting, but law enforcement says it can also be deadly. Swimming in canals is part of some residents’ pastime, but throughout the years many have learned to stay... more »

• Man in Custody after Stealing Ambulance in Harlingen Play Video

  June 17, 2019 11:12 AM

  HARLINGEN – A morning joy ride on a stolen ambulance lands a man in jail. Harlingen police say the suspect took the ambulance Monday at 8 a.m. from Fire Station 8. He was pulled over near Victor Park and is now being held at the city jail. ... more »

• Weslaco Residents Asked to Voice their Infrastructure Concerns at Upcoming Meeting Play Video

  May 28, 2019 5:17 PM

  WESLACO – A coalition of residents is needed to work with first responders in Weslaco. They’re not needed for rescue work. Instead, the city’s fire chief is organizing a group of neighborhood representatives. He wants them to report infrastructure concerns, such as clogged drains. A town... more »

• K-9 Arson Dog Joining SPI Fire Dept.

  May 10, 2019 11:00 PM

  SOUTH PADRE ISLAND – A K-9 arson dog is joining the South Padre Island Fire Department. Liberty, the new accelerant detection K-9 will make his debut at a press conference on Wednesday. These K-9’s are trained to sniff out traces of elements which may have started a fire.... more »

• SPI Fire Dept. Announces Summer Junior Lifeguard Program

  May 3, 2019 3:42 PM

  SOUTH PADRE ISLAND – The South Padre Island Fire Department is looking for youngsters to participate in their Junior Lifeguard Program. The department is inviting those between the ages of 10 to 16 to tryout. They will be meeting at the SPI Fire Station on May 4 and... more »

• Emergency Crews Respond to Pallet Fire in Donna on FM 493 Play Video

  April 30, 2019 9:02 AM

  DONNA – Firefighters responded to a fire on property used for pallet storage in Donna. Emergency crews from Alamo, Elsa, Donna and Hidalgo County Sheriff's Office were on the scene Tuesday morning. Hidalgo County sheriff deputies say the call came in just after 8 a.m. No injuries... more »

• McAllen Fire Responds to Blaze at Apartment Complex Play Video

  April 10, 2019 10:56 AM

  UPDATE (4:40 p.m.): The water and electricity are out at an apartment complex in McAllen following a blaze that took place Wednesday morning. McAllen Fire Department Deputy Chief of Operations Juan Gloria explains the fire most likely started in the first floor apartment. "Overall there was a total of 26... more »

• McAllen Meets in Court to Halt Benefits for Widow of City Firefighter Play Video

  March 8, 2019 12:18 PM

  EDINBURG – The city of McAllen is in court Friday trying to stop payment benefits to the widow of a McAllen firefighter. Cristela Torres was awarded the benefits in a previous court hearing. Her husband Robert Torres, who served as a firefighter in McAllen for 26 years, was... more »

• La Joya Fire Department Offering Free Smoke Detectors to Residents Play Video

  February 11, 2019 5:26 PM

  LA JOYA – Fire officials in La Joya are teaming up with American Red Cross to provide homes with free smoke detectors. Fire officials are urging homeowners to make sure they have the life-saving device in their homes. La Joya resident Emilio Tovar says he knows the importance... more »

• McAllen School Evacuated after Smoke Fills Classroom Play Video

  February 5, 2019 8:47 AM

  MCALLEN – A school in McAllen was evacuated just as students were being dropped off. McAllen Fire Captain Javier Gutierrez tells CHANNEL 5 NEWS St. Paul Lutheran School was evacuated around 7:30 a.m. Tuesday after an A/C motor shorted causing smoke in one of the classrooms. No injuries... more »

• SPI Fire Department receives arson dog scholarship

  November 17, 2017 3:24 PM

  SOUTH PADRE ISLAND - The City of South Padre Island Fire Department has received a scholarship from State Farm to add an arson dog as a community and regional asset. The new, four-legged firefighter will begin serving our community in May 2018. Accelerant detection canines, also know as arson dogs,... more »

• Opening of Progreso Fire Department Being Delayed Play Video

  April 21, 2017 5:08 PM

  PROGRESO – The opening of the new fire department for the city of Progreso is being delayed a month. It was previously announced the city was going to receive its own fire department. For years, the Weslaco Fire Department was responding to fire calls in Progreso. Progreso City Manager Alfredo... more »