Early Sunday morning, fire crews rushed to extinguish a blaze that broke out in an abandoned South Side home, suspected to have been inhabited by squatters. The inferno, witnessed emerging from the front window of a residence on the 600 block of Verne Street, was swiftly brought under control, according to FOX San Antonio.
Officials emerged onto the scene shortly after the 4:15 a.m. call, but were not able to immediately confirm if squatters had been present in the home at the time of the fire. The flames, deemed to have been sparked by an electrical issue, compelled the response of CPS Energy to safely cut the power supply. The structure sustained moderate damage, though, thankfully, there were no reports of injuries.
As the city wakes up to yet another incident involving neglected properties and the vulnerable populations that often seek refuge within their walls, questions about urban blight and housing security rise with the smoke. While the investigation into the exact cause and responsibility for the fire continues, the incident underscores the broader issue of the myriad abandoned homes dotting the landscape, often becoming hotbeds for potential hazards.
Firefighters managed to quickly get the fire under control, clearing the scene by approximately 5 a.m. The investigation into the exact cause of the fire is ongoing.
