Santa tradition for Linn-San Manuel volunteer firefighters

LINN—Children jumped up and down yelling, “Mommy, Santa!” and “Santa’s here!” Saturday morning as Mr. Claus approached in his red vehicle.

 But eight flying reindeer weren’t pulling Santa to his destination; he was riding in a fire truck to deliver gifts and goodies to children in the Linn-San Manuel area.

Despite the fact that their station burned down this month, the volunteer firefighters from the Linn-San Manuel Fire Department continued their 27-year tradition of Santa visits. Four firefighters dressed as Santa and used four fire trucks to deliver 500 gifts and 700 goodie bags to area children.

Instead of using all of their own trucks, one Santa (Assistant Chief Michael Large) traveled in a truck the department is borrowing from the city of San Juan to temporarily replace the pumper truck that was destroyed in the Dec. 10 blaze destroyed. The city also is borrowing a pumper from Brownsville’s fire department and recently returned a borrowed truck to McAllen.

Chief Domingo Hinojosa said he is grateful for all of the donations fire departments and others have made including equipment and money. On Friday, the Flour Bluff fire department from Nueces County Emergency Service District sold San Manuel Linn a 1987 pumper for a very low price, Hinojosa said. The Department’s board of directors will decide whether they’re going to buy an additional pumper.

The firefighters are using a former post office that was attached to the fire station that burned down. Although small, the accommodations will be enough until they have somewhere else to go.

“We’re blessed this part of the building didn’t burn down,” Large said.

The fire department was working toward building a new station even before the old one burned down. Firefighters needed more room for their trucks and equipment, which didn’t all fit in the approximately 60-year-old building that once was a gas station. Land has been donated for the new station and there also have been monetary donations, Hinojosa said. They hope to start building next month.

The fire occurred while the volunteers were having a Christmas party in Edinburg. The Hidalgo County Fire Marshal’s Office investigated and does not believe the fire was arson, said Fire Marshal Juan Martinez, adding that there was too much damage to determine the exact cause of the fire.

The department has bonded over the adversity.

“We’re closer now,” said Eloy Balderas, who has been with the department for 32 years. “We’re trying to start again.”

Throughout the ordeal, Hinojosa and others have emphasized that the department will continue to serve the community. Dressing up as Santa Claus on Christmas Eve represented that.

Some people thought the event might happen this year, Large said.

“We assured the community, ‘Yes, we’re going to be here for our kids,’” Large said as he adjusted his Santa beard.

Residents of the Lazy Palms Ranch RV park held bake sales and donated the proceeds for firefighters to buy candy and peanuts for goody bags. Carlos Guerra, owner of La Muñeca Cattle Co., donated money so the volunteers could buy the 500 gifts.

Miguel Perez, who lives in the Red Gate subdivision, said the volunteer firefighters serve as a good example to his young family members who were ecstatic to see Santa.

Firefighters also gave goody bags to older people in the community who otherwise might not have gotten a gift this Christmas, Hinojosa said.

“That brightened their day,” he said.

Mandy Campos, who lives on Los Venados Drive, said she was glad the firefighters carried on their tradition.

“That just proves the strength of the fire department, that they’re not going to stop giving back,” she said as her young relatives gleefully watched Santa approach.

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Gail Burkhardt covers Mission, western Hidalgo County, Starr County and general assignments for The Monitor. She can be reached at gburkhardt@themonitor.com and (956) 683-4462.