San Antonio was struck by a severe blaze last night when a two-alarm fire devastated an apartment complex on the city's Northeast Side. The San Antonio Fire Department responded to the Iron Horse apartments near Loop 410 and Starcrest Drive at approximately 10:30 p.m., as reported by KSAT. Flames were tearing through the third floor and roof of one of the buildings, prompting a defensive approach by the responding crews.
During the fire's peak, an estimate of around 100 firefighters were dispatched to combat the conflagration, according to Joe Arrington, SAFD Public Information Officer, who spoke with KENS 5. Having to adapt their strategy due to the intensity of the flames, the firefighting team managed to bring the fire under control within about 35 minutes. Arriving on the scene, the heavy flames were dramatically visible as they engulfed the roof and upper floor.
No injuries were reported as a result of the incident, a fortunate outcome given the fire's magnitude. The displacement caused by the blaze, however, is significant, with nine of the 12 units affected being occupied at the time. SAFD officials, working in tandem with the apartment's management, are assessing the full extent of the damage and the resulting number of affected residents. The American Red Cross was also summoned to render aid to the displaced, as stated by KSAT.
The cause of the inferno is currently under investigation, with both fire department officials and residents eager for answers. Arrington highlighted the additional precautions taken by the fire department in such circumstances, saying, "But the second alarm is, is a precaution that we almost always do when we have a working fire in an apartment. And so you would rather have too many resources there and not need them the needle and not have them," in an interview given to KENS 5.
