Mayor Dr. Victor Trevino reads a proclamation during an International Firefighters Day ceremony Monday, May 4, 2026, at the Laredo Fire Department Administration Center in Laredo, Texas, surrounded by city officials and firefighters.
Jose De La Rosa/Laredo Morning Times
Mayor Dr. Victor Trevino holds a proclamation during an International Firefighters Day ceremony Monday, May 4, 2026, at the Laredo Fire Department Administration Center in Laredo, Texas, surrounded by city officials and firefighters.
Jose De La Rosa/Laredo Morning Times
Mayor Dr. Victor Trevino speaks during an International Firefighters Day proclamation ceremony Monday, May 4, 2026, at the Laredo Fire Department Administration Center in Laredo, Texas.
Jose De La Rosa/Laredo Morning Times
District III Councilmember Melissa Cigarroa speaks during an International Firefighters Day proclamation ceremony Monday, May 4, 2026, at the Laredo Fire Department Administration Center in Laredo, Texas.
Jose De La Rosa/Laredo Morning Times
Fire Chief Guillermo Heard speaks during an International Firefighters Day proclamation ceremony Monday, May 4, 2026, at the Laredo Fire Department Administration Center in Laredo, Texas.
Jose De La Rosa/Laredo Morning Times
District V Councilmember Ruben Gutierrez speaks during an International Firefighters Day proclamation ceremony Monday, May 4, 2026, at the Laredo Fire Department Administration Center in Laredo, Texas.
Jose De La Rosa/Laredo Morning Times
The weight of being a first responder doesn’t always end when an emergency call is over.
District V Councilmember Ruben Gutierrez, who served more than two decades with the Laredo Police Department before being elected to the City Council, said the job often leaves lasting marks — ones that don’t always get talked about publicly.
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“First responders suffer sometimes and don’t seek help. I’ve seen it plenty of times,” he said. “A lot of my friends at the police department took their lives, and it’s a very difficult scene.”
His comments came as the city marked International Firefighters Day with a proclamation ceremony last week at the Laredo Fire Department Administration Center on Del Mar Boulevard, recognizing firefighters for their service and sacrifice.
Gutierrez added that the emotional toll of responding to emergencies can follow first responders long after the moment has passed.
“I know what you go through day in and day out, watching people pass away, literally in your arms,” he said. “Children were always the hardest part for me. It’s very difficult and I still deal with it now.”
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Mayor Dr. Victor Trevino presented the proclamation, describing firefighting as a profession defined not just by the work, but by the commitment behind it.
“Most people run away from the fire. They go into the fire,” he said. “They sacrifice to save lives, not only because it’s their job, but because they have a duty they swore to.”
The proclamation recognizes firefighters for risking their lives and acknowledges the physical and emotional toll of the profession.
Trevino, like Gutierrez, also pointed to the mental and emotional demands of the job, noting that firefighters are often exposed to situations that can be difficult to process. In Laredo, firefighters are certified EMTs who respond to emergencies beyond fires.
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“They see situations that are very difficult or that not every person could assimilate,” Trevino said. “They can get overwhelmed sometimes, and that takes a toll on public servants. We have to be understanding and show compassion toward them.”
Other city leaders attended the ceremony, including District III Councilmember Melissa Cigarroa and District VIII Councilmember Alyssa Cigarroa, along with current and retired firefighters.
Representatives from Nuevo Laredo’s Proteccion Civil and fire department were also present, reflecting coordination between the two cities on emergency response.
“We are a community that comes together,” Melissa Cigarroa said. “We look to our partners in Nuevo Laredo to share ideas and training. We know that in certain cases, when there are fires along the river, Nuevo Laredo is there to help and we really appreciate it.”
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Melissa Cigarroa noted the city government’s responsibility in public safety policy and budget and cited the fire department as a priority.
Together, she and Gutierrez said they have worked to support funding for mental health and wellness within the fire department, emphasizing the need for resources alongside recognition.
“Be sure that your mental state is in the right spot, and your physical fitness as well, because they coincide,” Gutierrez said. “These are difficult times. I understand, and the public understands. We’re all human and we can only take so much. We see that.”
Fire Chief Guillermo Heard closed out the ceremony by recognizing retirees in attendance and speaking about the continuity of the department, describing firefighting as a profession built on previous generations who paved the way.
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“In the fire service, we don’t just carry a job, we carry a legacy,” he said. “The traditions we uphold and the discipline we maintain, the pride we take in our work, are all rooted in those who came before us. It is our responsibility to honor that legacy, to remember the sacrifice of those lost and to continue building on what they started.”
Speakers also emphasized gratitude — not only for firefighters, but for their families.
“None of us get into this business for thank-yous, but every once in a while, if we can thank our firefighters, it’s something nice for us to do,” Heard said. “As for the families, their support makes this mission possible. Today, we remember, we honor and we commit ourselves to serving this community.”
“We understand the sacrifices families make,” Melissa Cigarroa said. “Our gratitude is to them as well, when their family member serves our city and our people with the highest honor.”
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Gutierrez also noted the number of people who attended the event.
“It means the world to see the public responding and coming up like this,” he said. “It’s a thankless job sometimes and I appreciate it. The ladies and gentlemen who are out there fighting and taking care of the community every single day, I genuinely just want to say thank you.”