What began as a Sunday night grass fire call turned into an overnight grind for San Antonio firefighters, who spent Monday keeping close watch on a stubborn blaze at the Nelson Gardens brush-recycling center on the city’s Southwest Side. Crews first responded around 8 p.m. Sunday, and gusty overnight winds kept the fire smoldering and raised concerns it could spread, so firefighters focused on cooling hot spots and trying to keep the flames from flaring back up in the breezy conditions.
According to KSAT, the fire was first reported at approximately 8 p.m. Sunday and was still being closely watched more than 12 hours later. An SAFD spokesperson told the outlet that some fire crews were still actively fighting the blaze and did not provide additional details.
Where the fire burned
The fire burned at the Nelson Gardens Brush Recycling Center, listed by the City of San Antonio's Solid Waste Management Department at 8963 Nelson Road. The site operates as a brush drop-off location for leaves, branches, and grass clippings. It sits near Loop 410 and Old Pearsall Road in southwest Bexar County, close to major roads and industrial yards.
Winds increased the risk
The National Weather Service issued a fire-weather outlook for the Austin and San Antonio area, calling for north winds of 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 40 to 45 mph and very low humidity. The agency warned that “any fires that develop could be difficult to control and spread rapidly with these conditions.”
What officials are saying
An SAFD spokesperson told KSAT the department did not have additional information to share but confirmed that crews were staying on scene to extinguish remaining hot spots. Residents with questions about brush drop-off locations or hours can check SARecycles.org for updates on center hours and services.
