Texa Border Business
By Selene Rodriguez
What began as a desire to volunteer, has grown into a powerful career dedicated to saving lives for South Texas College alumnus Rafael Gutierrez Jr.
Certified as both a firefighter and paramedic through STC, he now leads the city of Elsa Volunteer Fire Department and inspires others to follow his path of selfless dedication, including his son who is proudly following in his footsteps.
“I have always had a great admiration for firefighters, but what we do here in Elsa is more than that,” he said. “Everything is done voluntarily, with people giving their time purely out of love for the community. I believe that’s the highest form of public service.”
A Weslaco native, Gutierrez, 36, dreamed of being a superhero while growing up, not knowing that one day that dream would become a reality. He started volunteering with the city of Elsa before deciding to turn his passion for service into a career.
“I think the spirit of service was always in me, but it didn’t click at first,” he said. “Career-wise, I tried everything from sales to landscaping, restaurants and telemarketing, but nothing felt right. After volunteering in Elsa, I found my way to STC and enrolled in their fire academy, ready to become a certified firefighter.”
He became part of STC’s third fire academy class in 2012, standing out because of his experience as a volunteer firefighter. After earning his certification, he immediately continued into STC’s Emergency Medical Services program, completing his emergency medical technician (EMT) basic and advanced certifications within a year.
“STC has given me everything,” he said. “Earning my EMT certification opened so many doors, and I’m grateful STC offers those opportunities. My first job was actually in EMS and that experience made it much easier to move into the fire service.”
Gutierrez began his career with the city of San Juan before being hired by Weslaco, where he worked full time for 11 years. During that time, he returned to STC to earn his associate degree and certification as a paramedic.
When his son became old enough to join as a junior firefighter, he returned to Elsa to give back to the community that first ignited his passion for service. His dedication and leadership later led to his appointment as fire chief in early 2024.
“I always wanted to come back,” he said. “It’s been a great experience, but it’s not always easy because we all do this on our own time. I’m at the mercy of people’s schedules, but I believe that’s what makes it so meaningful. Thankfully, everyone is always willing to show up, even for calls in the middle of the night.”
Aside from seeing his son attend STC’s Fire Academy just like he did, Gutierrez is also planning to join STC’s Police Academy to become a certified fire marshal. He currently works part time with the Mercedes Fire Department, where he also serves as an assistant fire marshal.
“We have two of our volunteers currently in the academy and I look forward to my son attending STC as well,” he said. “As a parent, you always hope to pass down skills and values that matter, and this is something meaningful we can share.”
Over the years, Gutierrez has served on several specialized teams, including dive, wildland and hazmat response. But for him, the greatest reward goes beyond the titles.
“It’s all about making a difference,” he said. “When people are going through something horrific, they’re still so grateful to see you. Saving a home or a life is the most rewarding part. They need us, they want us there and that means a lot.”
Leading a team of 33 volunteer firefighters and six junior firefighters, Gutierrez recently returned to STC for hands-on training at the college’s two-story fire training facility, part of the department’s annual structural firefighting certification.
“We’re so grateful for everything STC provides,” he said. “We’ve trained with the car fire prop, the roof prop, the forcible entry door and now the two-story building. This clean-burning structure is a great tool for us because it produces no toxic smoke or carcinogens, so there’s no health risk to our crew. We used to train with hay and heavy smoke, but now that STC offers all this equipment, we’ve taken full advantage of it.”
Looking ahead, Gutierrez encourages anyone interested in public service to consider volunteering with their local fire department and giving back to their community.
“A lot of smaller departments depend on people who are willing to step up and serve. It’s a great way to see if this is the right path for you. And if you do decide to make it a career, STC is the way to go,” he said. “STC has done so much for me. It helped me put a roof over my head, provide for my family and chase what I’ve always wanted to do. I couldn’t be more grateful.”
For more information on STC’s Fire Science program and public safety training offered at STC’s Regional Center for Public Safety Excellence, visit southtexascollege.edu/rcpse/ or call 956-872-4208.
Information source: STC
