San Antonio firefighters have had their hands full with outbreaks of flames in two separate incidents, marking a day of quick action and narrow escapes. The first incident occurred in a once-silent neighborhood near downtown San Antonio, where fire crews confronted a raging inferno in an abandoned house today morning. The blaze, reported around 8:30 a.m. on the 1100 block of East Mulberry Avenue close to Broadway, saw approximately 30 units from the San Antonio Fire Department at the scene, according to a report by MySA.
The fire, contained within the solitary structure, prompted firefighting teams to adopt defensive strategies to quell the flames. Officials informed MySA, "Reports of an abandoned structure fire, home is considered unsafe, and we are currently using an Defensive strategy," and confirmed that no injuries had been reported. Residents like Charles Barksdale took personal precautionary measures as Barksdale wet his densely-packed bamboo-filled backyard to prevent the fire from encroaching on his property, he told MySA.
Meanwhile, another fire erupted at a body shop located on the North Side of the city. The fire that started around 7:45 a.m. in the 400 block of Culebra Road had the potential for extensive damage, considering the flammable materials typically harnessed within such facilities. SAFD Public Information Officer Joe Arrington detailed to KSAT that despite the shop's close quarters to neighboring businesses, the flames were effectively extinguished within 20 minutes, avoiding any further damage.
The fire at the body shop, having been confined to the office and a storage area on the second floor, did not reach the operational spaces where greater amounts of combustible materials were likely stored, said Arrington. The establishment was closed during the time of the incident, ensuring that there were not any reported injuries. Investigations into the source of the fire are currently underway, further emphasizing the peril that seems all too familiar to the city's first responders.
