An unexpected blast and subsequent blaze disrupted the Saturday morning calm on the east side of town, as residents were jarred awake by what some described as a powerful explosion. Firefighters, who were summoned to the scene shortly before 7 a.m., reportedly could see the flames from the highway as they sped toward Wayne Drive, located just outside Loop 410 south of Rigsby. The source of the disturbance: a home mid-renovation that neighbors say has been a cause for concern for quite some time.

Anxious calls flooded the San Antonio Fire Department's lines, with reports indicating that the disturbance was significant enough to startle people from their slumber even blocks away. Racing to the location, responding firefighters spotted the smoke and flames before even reaching the scene of the blaze, according to accounts obtained by KENS 5. Upon arrival, they were met with heavy smoke billowing out of a residence that was apparently being renovated, but not with the most professional oversight.

Chief John Castillo, detailing the precarious conditions firefighters encountered, said the home's wiring wasn't up to snuff. "This house is not wired appropriately. CPS had to pull the meter because they were doing a lot of electrical work that was not done professionally," he told KENS 5. While the origin and cause of the fire are still being investigated, the incident commander noted the difficulties in determining if an explosion indeed took place given the conditions within and without the affected building.

Due to the instability of the second floor, firefighters were forced to punch a hole in a wall to effectively combat the flames, a tactical decision that allowed them to quell the majority of the fire within approximately ten minutes post-arrival. "We were not able to make entry to the second floor and it looked like it began on the second floor and the floor collapsed so we really don't know what happened," Castillo confessed to KENS 5, emphasizing the potential peril of the situation had it been left unchecked. Remarkably, one man was reported to be home at the time of the fire but fortunately was not injured.

Locals contend the property has long been viewed with unease, its conditions ripe for hazard, characterized by the accumulation of trash and debris. As the investigation into the fire's cause is ongoing, this story continues to develop, with updates expected as more details emerge.