PENITAS – The city of Peñitas is set to launch its volunteer fire department next month. It’s the first for the city.

Before the announcement, it was nearby fire departments that helped protect Peñitas residents.

It took the city some time to build the department because the budget did not allow it. However, the city recently managed to save up enough funds to make it happen.

The volunteer fire department for Peñitas will soon become reality.

“With it growing and expanding as much as it has, especially in the past year, it’s vital for the citizens of Peñitas,” Peñitas Volunteer Fire Department Capt. Ruben Garcia said.

For years La Joya and Palmview fire departments helped protect the city. Just last month, both fire departments responded to a house fire that consumed the structure.

The family inside managed to make it out with their lives.

“When there’s a fire it takes, I mean it can take, from seven minutes to 20 minutes for any department to respond, just because of how far they are from the city,” Garcia said.

Garcia said when a house fire breaks out every second counts.

“Those are vital moments,” he emphasized.

Jesus Torres has called Peñitas home for the past 40 years.

“It’s a good idea because now they’re going to be close by, you know. You can call them and they’ll respond to you right away instead of getting La Joya, Palmview or Mission,” Torres said.

He said the in-city fire protection is a long time coming.

The department has 20 volunteer firefighters, with two paid positions. The fleet consists of two firetrucks.

Garcia said Palmview fire will continue to respond to Peñitas, until the volunteer department gets completely on their feet starting Jan. 15, 2017.