SAN ANTONIO – Displaced Agave Apartments residents remain in limbo after Saturday night's fire.
San Antonio Fire Department crews put out the fire in Building 6 of the complex at St. Mary's and Cesar Chavez without any injuries, but not without damage. Smoke, fire and water damage -- not to mention knocked down doors -- left all of the building's residents at least temporarily homeless.
A Sunday email from Agave's management to residents says a structural engineer has completed inspecting the building and shoring will begin Monday. Once the shoring is complete, according to the email, management will let residents know when they can enter their homes.
In the meantime, a patrol service will monitor the building's entrances.
The apartment's management has put the displaced residents up at Grand Hyatt hotel on Market Street. That's where Autumn Brooke and her pets are staying.
"This is my new home for the time being," Brooke said.
Brooke said the apartment management is paying for the hotel until Wednesday. She said it has also provided a per diem and money for clothing.
"I really hope I don't have to stay here that long, but I imagine that I probably will have to be here for a while," she said.
"I don't really know the state of the apartment other than I probably have extensive water damage at the minimum."
Brooke was out walking her dog when the fire happened. She was able to run back in and grab her cats, too. Besides them and the clothes she had on, she has little more than what she has been able to buy.
"You don't really think about the things that you have until you don't have them," she said, looking through a bag of drug store purchases.
Nail scissors, a comb and mousse were all on her list. She also bought sweaters and food for her dog.
"I bought this first before I bought anything for me,” Brooke said.
She and other displaced residents also are able to get help from the American Red Cross, which has set up its temporary client assistance center in the same hotel, ensuring residents have somewhere to stay and providing financial assistance and mental health support.
Red Cross spokeswoman Libby Castillo said about 25 residents came through the center Sunday. They were in good spirits, she said, considering the circumstances.
"They were just thankful that everyone was safe. You know they might have lost their belongings but their loved ones and their pets were safe," she said.
The uncertainty is stressful. Brooke said she's thankful for the apartment management's help, but a hotel isn't home.
"I want to go home," she said through tears.
Where that home will be remains to be seen.
