SAN ANTONIO – Some San Antonio homeowners are forced to pick up the pieces after they said midnight fireworks on New Year’s Eve sparked a fire that destroyed two homes on the Southwest Side.
Rudy Garza, whose home was one of two destroyed in the fire, recalled watching in horror as his house went up in flames.
Garza and his son were standing across the street when the fire ignited.
“It’s a helpless feeling because you want to do something, but you can’t,” Garza said.
Both Garza and his neighbor, who did not want to be identified, said fireworks are what led to sparking the fire that destroyed their homes.
Both men said the fire, which happened near West Harlan Avenue and Lenard Street, is a reminder of the risks associated with fireworks, a long-standing tradition for ringing in the new year.
While fireworks are prohibited within San Antonio city limits, the law is often ignored. Some neighborhoods host their own fireworks displays.
Some of these displays have rivaled the city-sanctioned fireworks show at the Tower of the Americas.
“Once you lose something, that’s when you realize what could happen,” the homeowner who did not want to be identified told KSAT.
Both Garza and his neighbor had deep ties to their homes. Garza noted that he had spent 20 years fixing up his property.
“All this is replaceable,” Garza said. “The life of my son and myself is not replaceable.”
The San Antonio Fire Department did not provide specific statistics on fireworks-related incidents between Dec. 28 and Jan. 1. However, during the same time period, the Bexar County Fire Marshal reported nearly 2,000 emergency calls.
Those calls included more than 32 fireworks-related fires, which resulted in $100,000 in property damage.
Neither Garza nor his neighbor said they had home insurance. Both are now trying to raise funds while staying with friends and family as they rebuild.
Garza emphasized that his tragedy has changed his perspective on fireworks.
“If it’s illegal, it’s got to be illegal,” Garza said. “You never think it’s going to happen to you, but now I think differently.”
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