San Antonio fire crews faced a ferocious blaze this morning as an abandoned structure went up in flames near a residential area on the Northeast Side. The fire erupted around 8:30 a.m. in the 1100 block of E. Mulberry St, close to an apartment complex, with no injuries reported at the scene, according to KENS5.
The building, which loomed ominously near Margaret Avenue, was a known hazard, listed as a 'dangerous building' by local authorities. The San Antonio Fire Department's Woody Woodward explained the myriad challenges firefighters encountered, including "a lack of flooring, unstable walls" and the risk of collapse, making interior assault impossible. These complications required a battle against the flames solely from the outside, as reported by FOX San Antonio.
Intense efforts were made to control the fire, with the San Antonio Fire Department deploying 32 units. A nearby resident, a woman who was evacuated as the fire encroached upon her building, received treatment on-site for smoke inhalation, as detailed in Woodward's comments.
The structure, ultimately deemed a complete loss by authorities, is expected to be razed by city officials in the aftermath. Although the flames have been subdued, the investigation into the incident's cause lingers, with crews still sifting through the charred remains for answers. Officials have yet to determine if anyone was inside at the time the fire started, Woodward conveyed, showing the unpredictability and hidden dangers that can lie within such forgotten places.
