The San Antonio City Council on May 1 recognized the San Antonio Fire Department Investigations Unit after the team was named Investigator of the Year by the International Association of Arson Investigators.

Mayor Ron Nirenberg and multiple councilmembers praised the unit’s technical skill and dedication. Councilmember Cabello Haverda said the award “isn’t just any award” and described it as “one of the highest honors in the field of fire investigation.” Councilmember Castillo noted the unit completed nearly 2,000 investigations in four and a half years and said 60 to 70% of those were accidental, emphasizing the unit’s role in prevention.

Councilmember Aldrete de Gavito and others credited leadership within the unit, singling out Lieutenant Paul Ramos for praise. The mayor described the San Antonio Fire Department as a Class 1 department and said the investigations team’s work saves taxpayer dollars and provides answers to grieving families.

Officials said the unit’s investigations inform prevention programs and community outreach, including education aimed at seniors and other high-risk groups. No formal action or vote was associated with the recognition; the item was a ceremonial proclamation and public acknowledgment.

The council’s remarks repeatedly underscored both the investigative and preventative aspects of the unit’s work and the value of its national recognition to the city’s public-safety efforts.