A fire erupted Saturday night at the Tarry Towne Apartments on San Antonio's Northwest Side, prompting an urgent response from the San Antonio Fire Department (SAFD). The incident, which was reported around 9 p.m. at the complex located in the 300 block of Vance Jackson Road, resulted in damage to a dozen units, officials said. KSAT reported that firefighters were met with heavy flames from the roof of the building as the blaze spread into the attic, making it necessary for an immediate evacuation of residents.
An SAFD Battalion Chief disclosed that no injuries had been reported, however, one resident was treated for smoke inhalation, according to details shared by another local news outlet, according to KENS 5. Two residents, who were initially thought to be missing, were eventually accounted for. The firefighters' efforts also led to the rescue of a cat amidst the chaos of the inferno.
In interviews with KSAT, residents recounted the harrowing experience. Olivia Schupp, who has called the complex home for eight years, said, "Somebody told me to get out. There was a fire," adding, "I couldn't see anything because of the smoke." Another resident, Frances Gaitan, expressed her immediate concern for her dog and her disabled neighbors, recounting her brave effort to alert them by saying, "I went back and I was banging on her window. And the other lady, she’s in a wheelchair, but I couldn't handle the smoke anymore, so I had to get out.” She also mentioned her emotional attachment to her dog Lola, calling her "my little life, you know, I couldn't leave her behind."
The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the SAFD. In the interim, the presence of the fire department at the scene was continuous, ensuring the area was fully secured and safe for residents. Opportunity Home San Antonio was reported to have provided temporary housing for those affected by the fire, a kind of communal support that becomes priceless in times of such unforeseen disasters.
