SAN ANTONIO -- With no end in sight to the Helotes mulch fire that was supposed to be out Wednesday, Bexar County is running out of money for hotel rooms to house the chronically ill escaping the smoke, said county officials.

The sick and their families were being notified that the money left is for the most critically in need.

The uncertainty over how to put out the Helotes mulch fire without polluting nearby wells has created yet another dilemma.

"For us, the challenge is now how to move people back in their homes knowing that fire may probably last through February," said Bexar County Community Programs member Aurora Sanchez.

Chronically ill people have already submitted medical documentation to qualify.

"We've had lung transplant patients. We had persons with ALS; people with emphysema; children with asthma," Sanchez said.

Since Jan. 7, Bexar County paid for 900 hotel stays for 800 people at half a dozen hotels and a mobile home park. Even at reduced rates, most of $150,000 allocated has been spent.

So now, those staying far enough away from the aggravating smoke are being notified of the options that remain.

"Go back to their homes if they think they can be medically managed. Move in with family members or friends, if that's a possibility or to move into the group shelter," Sanchez said.

Since the Helotes mulch fire is rare, and not a flood or a hurricane, other government funds are as elusive as smoke.

"We can't even capture the information that we need in order to reach that $23 million damage threshold to be able to access federal or state money," Sanchez said.

She said there are no deadlines. They want to give families the lead-time they need.

The balance of the funding will go toward keeping the most critically ill safe from the effects of the Helotes mulch fire, Sanchez said