BEXAR COUNTY – A Northeast Side Bexar County home was stripped down to its foundation after it was engulfed by a fire early Monday morning.
A plume of smoke could be seen miles away from I-35 when that fire ignited just after 6:30 a.m. Monday in the 6400 block of Jenny Drive.
Bexar County Fire Chief Robert Hogan ESD 10 called the home a complete loss.
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Residents were able to get out safely after waking up to lots of smoke.
"Residents that were inside advised that they woke up to smoke came outside and they saw fire up in the attic," Hogan said.
Roy Thien said his father and best friend, who lived in the home with him, made it out alive, but they didn’t know where he was.
“I had spent the night at a friend’s house, and they were worried because they didn’t know if I was in the house or not,” Thien said. “If I had been here, I would still be buried under all that rubble.”
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Windcrest, Universal City, Converse and Fort Sam Houston fire departments all helped battle the blaze.
“There’s a lot of junk that is around the house and a lot of stuff that’s in the house. That’s what’s producing all the flames over an hour later,” Hogan said.
Thien said he was able to salvage some important documents.
“I was able to get out some military papers, my DD 214 and a couple of other things that I needed from when I was in the Army,” he said.
Firefighters were able to prevent the fire from spreading to surrounding homes, and neighbors were evacuated just in case.
Alvin Thomas, who lives next door, said he can’t help but think of the hardship his neighbors are going through.
“I want them to have a home. If anybody can help them, you know, because they really need it,” he said.
Thien said he’s trying to remain hopeful.
“About the only thing you can do is pick up the pieces and make a fresh start,” he said.
The cause of the fire is still unknown. The Bexar County Fire Marshal’s Office will continue to investigate.