A man, reportedly homeless, barricaded himself inside a vacant Broadway Street building after setting it ablaze, authorities say. According to the San Antonio Fire Department, early risers witnessed the scene around 5:30 a.m. Thursday, prompting them to alert the authorities. Capt. Sam Elizondo of the SAFD said in a statement obtained by KSAT News, “(Firefighters) forced entry and found a homeless person in there who had started a fire, who ultimately had barricaded himself into the bathroom,”
The structure, once hosting the Tomatillo’s Mexican restaurant, now stands hollow, a shell that beckons to the disenfranchised for refuge. As reported by KSAT News, forced into the bowels of the structure by SAFD, the firefighters discovered the man in a self-imposed exile within the bathroom confines. The crews managed to extinguish the small fires swiftly, minimizing physical damage to the property. Yet, the situation escalated requiring the San Antonio police to step in. Elizondo recounted to KSAT News the grim persistence of the scene as he noted, "He still was actively trying to start a fire, or set another fire."
The man, whose flames of desperation signaled more than the fire he cast, inhaled more than his share of the smoked air and was consequently admitted to the hospital. His treatment, as detailed by SAFD, extends beyond his physical afflictions to include mental health evaluation.
A woman part of the management team, whose words personify the building's plight, told KSAT News about the constant struggles to stave off unwelcome visitors. Reflecting on the past affronts to the property, she said, "People have stolen metal fixtures from inside the building and left behind items, including mattresses and tents." With SAFD's call log bearing witness to only four related incidents in the past year.
