Rio Hondo fire chief keeps powers

Jan. 30--RIO HONDO -- Despite recent reports from other area media that the City Commission had stripped Fire Department Chief Weldon Matlock of his hiring privileges, City Administrator Ben Medina on Wednesday said the reports are not true.

The report followed the arrests of three volunteer firefighters on arson charges. Those reports also said Matlock was up for possible termination, but Medina denied that, as well.

The chief was never in danger of being fired and his hiring privileges were not taken away, Medina said.

Several attempts to reach Matlock on Wednesday were unsuccessful.

Matlock, who is also head of the police department, has held that position for three years.

Three volunteer firefightewrs have been charged with arson, the latest Richard Guajardo, 18, was arraigned Monday on an arson charge in connection with a fire at an unoccupied house.

Guajardo was arrested about 10:30 a.m. Monday at Rio Hondo High School, where he is a student, officials said.

Guajardo was arrested by the Cameron County Fire Marshal's office and Precinct 3 constables.

Two other teens, Daniel Davis, 17, and Alexander Benavidez, 18, also volunteer firefighters, were arrested Jan. 23 in connection with the Jan. 22 fire at an unoccupied house on Brown Tract Road, which officials said was deliberately set ablaze.

Officials said all three responded to fight the blaze.

The Jan. 22 fire is the latest in a series of fires that are under investigation, and officials expect more arrests to be made.

Guajardo was arraigned by Precinct 3 Justice of the Peace Manuel Flores, who set bond at $15,000 on an arson charge.

Guajardo is being held at Carrizales Rucker Detention Center.

According to the State Firemen's and Fire Marshals' Association of Texas Executive Director Chris Barron, there is no minimum age requirement for a volunteer firefighter per se, but due to insurance policies and other considerations, typically the minimum is 18. However, some departments do have junior firefighters who are between 16-17 years old but their only capability is to do exterior firefighting, he said.

ksommer@valleystar.com

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