Firefighters doused a blaze early Tuesday in a North Side apartment believed to be the work of squatters seeking shelter. The incident took place at the Flats on Wakefield apartment complex off Wakefield Drive, near North Star Mall. According to FOX San Antonio, crews quickly extinguished the box spring that was set on fire in the vacant unit.
The San Antonio Fire Department arrived around 1:15 a.m. to find smoke emitting from a first-floor apartment. In the empty space, firefighters discovered a flaming piece of furniture—an act possibly done to ward off the biting cold. As reported by KSAT, officials stated that the fire did not quickly escalate to the rest of the building; only the contents burned.
Both the SAFD and SAPD responded to the scene, observing that many of the units were vacant with signs indicating squatters had taken up residence. An investigation has since to begin to look into the exact cause of the flames and the circumstances leading up to the fire.
The fire investigators are checking the evidence, but it looks like the story is pretty straightforward: homeless people in the city, struggling with the cold and desperation, seek refuge in abandoned places that can be dangerous. As the investigation continues, local officials and aid groups might need to face the hidden struggles brought to light by this small fire.
