SAN ANTONIO – More than 35 San Antonio firefighters responded to a structure fire late Friday night at an apartment complex near Ingram Park Mall.
The massive fire not only completely destroyed one of the complex’s apartment building, but also left families from 16 units without a home.
“I have to be out of this apartment completely packed by midnight. Otherwise, I lose anything that's left. They're going to gate it off, put a security guard and we're not allowed in after midnight,” said Abigail Bavousette, who was displaced by the fire.
Video captured by KSAT viewers shows the intensity of the fire as families watch at a safe distance and SAFD crews battle the blaze.
San Antonio Fire Department spokesman Joe Arrington said crews began arriving just before midnight to the 6900 block of Border Brook at the Stoneybrook Apartments, which is on city’s Northwest Side.
Arrington said when firefighters arrived, building 16 was engulfed in flames -- believed to have started on the second floor -- and crews began attacking the fire while calling for more units after issuing a second alarm.
SAFD crews were able to contain the fire to just one building. Its roof collapsed and was later considered a total loss, according to the Fire Department.
There was a rush of activity as families grabbed what they could.
“I'm going to lose probably my couches and stuff ‘cause I don't have family in San Antonio. I'm relying on neighbors and people who can come out and help as much as they can,” said Antonio Lozano, who was displaced by the fire.
Many of the residents are frustrated because they thought they had longer to collect their things.
“At first, it was three days. OK, we have time. But (the deadlines is) midnight. It's like it's almost impossible to get everything out by midnight,” resident Loretta Vega said.
Some residents said they were able to move to other units, but that didn’t work for everyone.
“They could move me to another apartment, but it was going to be smaller and I was going to have to pay more than $200 more a month,” Vega said.
Arrington said everyone affected was evacuated safely and that no injuries have been reported.
Arson investigators were called to the apartment complex to determine the cause of the fire, Arrington said.
When reached for comment, workers of the complex said that they were in communication with all of their residents.
“San Antonio Fire, San Antonio police, Red Cross Disaster Relief -- they were here for us. Stoneybrook management told us to go fish,” resident John Garza said.