Valley Firefighters Training to Prevent Grass Fires
A group of Valley firefighters are taking steps to stop grass fires in the area.
The Edinburg Fire Department is using bulldozers to get to tough to reach places to put out fires.
They were seen training Sunday to prepare for whatever mother nature has in store in the upcoming months.
Employees with the city that already use bulldozers for street work were training with the Edinburg fire department, in case they are needed to assist with their machines.
Assistant Fire Chief for the Edinburg Fire Department, Ubaldo Perez, said wildfire season depends on the weather.
"It's usually after winter and into spring is when it kind of picks up a little bit," said Perez.
Edinburg fire officials have fought a couple hundred wildfires in the last year.
They're hoping to decrease that number this year.
"We anticipate probably going to have a busy wildfire season, and by bringing in all these other aspects like the bulldozers, it's just going to help us that much more," said Perez.
Perez said they use the bulldozer to put out fires anywhere from northern Edinburg all the way to McCook.
David Ruelas lives in northern Edinburg on Brushline where he's seen multiple brush fires.
He said he thinks the idea of using a bulldozer to extinguish these wildfires will...
"...save lives and properties," said Ruelas.
He said he's seen some very close to his home.
"In that area right over there, they opened a new section and new lots right there, so now you've got more people living over here in this area," said Ruelas.
Perez said using these types of machines help them get to the blaze quickly.
"The biggest thing is access into these areas, is very sandy. A lot of our fire trucks don't have the ability to get through that," said Perez.
He said they are ready for whatever comes their way.
Perez said they've already deployed their bulldozer several times in the last three months.