A grass fire erupted on New Year's Eve in the northern reaches of Bexar County, threatening structures and causing local fire departments to respond swiftly. The San Antonio Fire Department reported the blaze igniting shortly before 7 p.m. last night near the 23300 block of U.S. Highway 281 North, adjacent to Stone Oak Parkway. Visible flames along the highway were captured in a video and sent to KSAT, showcasing the immediacy of the threat as night descended on the last day of the year.
According to reports from the scene by KSAT, old barns became fuel for the fire, further complicating the efforts of firefighters. The department was able to declare the blaze fully under control by 8:15 p.m., shifting focus to extinguishing remaining hotspots. As the fire inched toward nearby apartments, a second alarm was triggered, summoning additional resources as a precautionary measure. An SAFD spokesperson relayed the events, stating, “The fire was spreading towards some apartments so a second alarm was requested as a precaution,"
No injuries were reported in the conflagration, and despite the initial threat, the flames did not reach the apartment complexes that stood in potential harm's way. More than 30 fire units were on site battling the blaze, as communicated by a FOX San Antonio report. The fire also consumed a couple of old barns and a vacant house, evidence of its destructive power as well as of the valiant battle waged by the firefighters to contain it.
The investigation into what sparked the New Year’s Eve fire is ongoing, with details remaining elusive as of the latest updates.
