Pharr Fire Department and Emergency Management Assist with SPI Fire

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MONDAY, MAY 18, 2020

Pharr, Texas – The City of Pharr Fire Department and Emergency Management personnel answered the call of duty to assist with a massive fire that broke out early Saturday morning at the Gulf Point condominium building at South Padre Island. This has been one of the largest fires on the island and Pharr joined dozens of other firefighters from throughout the Rio Grande Valley in battling the fire. 

“Immediately upon hearing about the fire and receiving a request for mutual aid, we assembled our Pharr Fire Department and Emergency Management teams and headed to South Padre Island to help,” said Ed Wylie, City of Pharr Emergency Management Coordinator and Interim City Manager. “We are one community in the Rio Grande Valley and we were happy to help to get the fire under control,” he continued.  “They needed all hands on deck and we were proud to join in the efforts to put out the fire and save lives,” he added.

Pharr Fire Department and Emergency Management personnel help fire departments from throughout the RGV battle the fire at the Gulf Point condominium. 

South Padre Island officials have confirmed that no injuries or missing persons were reported. Although a cause for the fire has not yet been identified and is still under investigation, it is believed that lightning struck the roof of the building early in the morning, sparking the fire, according to initial reports from the National Weather Service. 

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