LaredoBuzz.Com

Courtesy Rafael Benavides,

LAREDO, Texas—Laredo Fire Chief and Emergency Management Coordinator Steve Erik Landin retired Friday from the City of Laredo after 30 years of service in the fire department, 12 of which he served fire chief.

Landin was born in Virginia and raised in Laredo. He was appointed as emergency management coordinator for the City of Laredo in 2005 and since then has coordinated the local emergency response to three federally-declared disasters, which include two floods on the Rio Grande, various shelter activities and this most recent pandemic. He was dually appointed as Fire Chief in 2008.

City Manager Robert Eads has appointed Chief Ramiro R. Elizondo to serve as interim fire chief and emergency management coordinator effective immediately.

Elizondo is a native Laredoan and the fire department’s first third-generation firefighter. He joined the City of Laredo Fire Department in June 1991 and has risen through the ranks. Starting off as an assistant driver, Chief Elizondo worked his way to becoming a captain, district chief, deputy chief and most recently assistant fire chief in 2017. He has gained valuable experiences having been assigned in the Fire and EMS Divisions for the Laredo Fire Department, attaining solid relations within the department.

Interim Fire Chief Elizondo holds an associate’s degree in fire science from Columbia Southern University, has various certifications from the Texas Commission of Fire Protection and the State of Texas, and has completed FEMA National Incident Management System and FEMA Incident Command System (ICS) Initial Action Incident System training.

“Chief Landin has been an invaluable asset to our local emergency response efforts and has helped saved countless lives throughout the years,” said Mayor Pete Saenz. “Chief Landin embodies the spirit of true public service. We are greatly appreciative of his commitment to our citizens over the past 30 years and wish him and his family a happy retirement.”

“This is a bittersweet moment for many of us as we wish Chief Landin and his family a happy retirement,” said City Manager Robert Eads. “We greatly value the expertise and knowledge that Chief Landin has provided us over the years. The City of Laredo also places great emphasis on building up and taking care of our employees. Chief Landin is certainly a great example of how we strive to conduct ourselves as public servants and leaders. I also want to congratulate Chief Elizondo on this position. I have the utmost confidence in his skills and abilities to not only lead the fire department, but our entire community during emergency situations.”

“On behalf of the Laredo Firefighters Association Local 872 we would like to extend our most sincere and heartfelt gratitude to retiring Fire Chief Steve Landin,” the associated said in a statement. “Thank you for 30 years of service as a Laredo firefighter and the last 12 years of service as our fire chief and community leader. We truly appreciate your tireless efforts over the years to lead and guide our department into the future. Your constant vigilance, for the safety of your firefighters and their families, has created a legacy that will live on in our department forever. As you move on into your future endeavors, always remember that you have a place in our hearts. We are all well aware of the time you dedicated to the city, and we hope that you can now take more time to enjoy life with your family. We will always be here for you and your family in the future.”