San Antonio Fire Department names veteran firefighter as interim chief

The San Antonio Fire Department is entering a new chapter with the appointment of longtime firefighter Mario Amaro as interim fire chief, according to Socorro County Emergency Manager Fred Berger.

Amaro, who recently stepped into the volunteer leadership role, retired from the Socorro Fire Department after a decades-long career. Berger said the two share a long history.

“I was actually one of the people that was training him when he first came into the department, probably 30 years ago,” Berger said. “He’s well respected. He’s very experienced, so I think we can really turn that fire department around with him at the helm.”

Amaro has been serving as interim chief for about two weeks and is expected to go before the county commission in March for formal approval. The position is entirely volunteer, Berger said, with no additional funding required.

Since taking on the role, Amaro has already begun rebuilding the department’s ranks. Berger said several former volunteers are returning, and additional recruitment efforts are underway in surrounding areas.

“He’s been doing a lot of work already,” Berger said. “I’m pretty pleased. I think it’ll be a good fit for us.”

County Completes Fire Hydrant Mapping Project

In addition to leadership changes at the San Antonio department, the county has completed an extensive eight-month project to test and map fire hydrants in unincorporated areas, including San Antonio, La Joya, Polvadera and San Acacia.

Berger said every hydrant in those areas has now been tested, mapped and documented. The updated maps have been distributed to local fire departments and water authorities.

The project serves both practical and regulatory purposes. Hydrant testing and mapping are required for the Insurance Services Office (ISO) inspections — evaluations that influence homeowners’ insurance ratings — but they are also critical for firefighter safety and operational efficiency.

“It’s needed so fire departments know which hydrants they can actually use,” Berger explained. “If we have a hydrant that doesn’t have enough pressure and we hook up to it, we can cavitate the line. We really have to educate ourselves as to which hydrants are good to hook up to during a fire situation.”

The ISO evaluates communities’ fire protection capabilities, which can directly impact property insurance premiums for residents. Berger said San Antonio is expected to undergo its ISO inspection within the next year, making the hydrant mapping project especially timely.

The effort required coordination with local water authorities, as hydrants had to be run for a specified amount of time during testing. Two members of Berger’s office conducted the majority of the fieldwork, covering extensive rural miles and working around winter weather conditions.

“It took about eight months to complete everything,” Berger said.

With new leadership in San Antonio and updated infrastructure data in place, Berger said the county is strengthening its fire protection capabilities on multiple fronts — both through experienced personnel and improved emergency preparedness.