An Outpouring of Support for Local Firefighter

On the evening of Friday, August 21st, La Feria Volunteer Fire Department firefighter Alex Casas was driving home from Mercedes when a vehicle in front of him abruptly stopped causing Casas to lose control of his vehicle and hit a utility pole.

A helicopter rushed Casas to Valley Baptist Medical Center in Harlingen, where he remains in intensive care.

Casas sustained multiple injuries, including a broken left shoulder as well as paralysis from the waist down.

Casas had just graduated from a local fire academy and has volunteered with the La Feria Fire Department for three years.

Almost immediately an outpouring of love and support from the La Feria community began as friends and family shared a post calling for donations to help Casas throughout social media networks last week.

“We as volunteer firefighters answer calls for people we don’t know on a daily basis without thinking twice, it is something that we take pride in doing,” the post read.

“We are asking for help from our communities to help him and his family with medical expenses and expenses that may be incurred throughout the time that Alex will be in the hospital and unable to work. He will need extensive care and rehab after leaving the hospital as well. All funds raised will go directly to Alex and his family.”

A BBQ plate fundraiser was quickly organized by the City of La Feria and the La Feria Volunteer Fire Department with the help of the Knights of Columbus. Plates were available at the Knights of Columbus Hall at 1701 E. Harrison Ave. in Harlingen this past Saturday.

Although a significant amount of donations have already been collected through the fundraiser a GoFundMe account has also been set up online for those that would like to contribute as well.