San Antonio emergency crews freed a man who had become trapped inside a rooftop exhaust fan atop a vacant Sonic restaurant north of downtown, pulling him out conscious and breathing after a bystander reported hearing banging coming from the shuttered building. The rescue happened shortly before noon Tuesday in the 900 block of W Ridgewood Court, where police had initially responded to reports of a disturbance.
According to KENS 5, a bystander reported someone banging on the closed business, which led officers to find a man believed to be in his 30s wedged inside the rooftop exhaust fan. Authorities said the man was positioned with his arms outside the fan and the rest of his body lowered inside it, and officials believe the banging may have been his attempt to call for help. Emergency crews worked to free him, and officials said he was conscious and breathing before being taken for medical attention.
The exact cause of the entrapment remained unclear, authorities said, and no other people were involved in the incident. Officials said the vacant property had been a frequent gathering spot for people experiencing homelessness, though the man's own housing status was unknown at the time of publication. Crews said they plan to secure possible entry points at the building to prevent a similar incident, and the station's report noted that any criminal charges or citations against the man remained unclear as of publication.
A Rescue That Required Specialized Training
The San Antonio Fire Department operates two heavy rescue apparatus and provides technical rescue services, according to Fire Apparatus Magazine. The department covers 465 square miles and operates 54 stations, per the same publication, which describes an over-1,800-member force.
A man was freed after two days in an empty grease vent in an incident discussed in a Reddit post. A discussion of ductwork notes that most ductwork cannot support a person's weight.
A Familiar Pattern at Vacant Sonic Properties
This is not the first time a closed Sonic location in San Antonio has drawn safety concerns. Hoodline previously reported on a major structural fire at another vacant Sonic Drive-In on the city's South Side in May, part of a broader pattern of decommissioned Sonic locations sitting empty across the metro area.
Residents can report vacant properties to the city.
What the City Requires of Vacant Property Owners
Some vacant homes must be registered and kept in good condition, according to the City of San Antonio.
City leaders have debated whether those rules go far enough. In May, the San Antonio City Council's Planning and Community Development Committee evaluated proposals to toughen vacant property enforcement, including an interlocal agreement with Bexar County that would allow foreclosure on tax-delinquent blighted buildings, per the San Antonio Report.
Charges Remain Unclear
As of publication, it remained unclear whether the man would face any charges or citations in connection with Tuesday's incident.
