Apartment Fire Displaces 10 Families
Residents Help Save One Another
POSTED: Sunday, July 13, 2008
UPDATED: 10:12 am CDT July 13,
2008
SAN ANTONIO -- An apartment fire on the city's southwest side Saturday night left 10 families homeless.
The fire erupted at the Springvale Manor apartment complex in the 1300 block of Springvale Drive.
Apartment residents said they were disappointed over their loses but thankful because no one was killed.
When the fire broke out on the second floor of the 700 building in Springvale Manor, residents turned into rescuers.
"The man instinct takes over, and you have to live," resident Michael Castillo said.
People went door to door to warn neighbors about the fire and smoke that was filling up their building.
"The only thing I thought was the people upstairs. I started knocking on doors and yelling, 'Get the hell out!'" Castillo said.
"That fire went so fast. It was amazing," resident Obadiah Dandudu said.
Dandudu said he was asleep when he heard Castillo shouting.
"It woke me up, and I opened the sitting room door, and smoke was everywhere. (The) fire (was) on the veranda," Dandudu said.
He said he went back inside and jumped from his second-floor balcony to safety.
About 55 firefighters were on the scene putting the flames out, officials said.
The fire caused about $350,000 to the building and contents inside the apartment.
Officials said many of the residents do not have renter's insurance.
The Red Cross is assisting the displaced residents.
Arson investigators said they were sifting through the ashes trying to find out the cause.
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