SAN ANTONIO – Two houses downtown are a total loss after a suspicious morning fire, authorities said.
Heavy smoke coming from the 200 block of Kingsbury Street caused alarm Saturday morning. Firefighters got the call to put out the fire at the two neighboring homes just before 9:30 a.m on the north edge of downtown.
“They were both on fire when we arrived, but looking at it, we know that one was fully involved. And I can see that there’s a lot of burning on the side,” said Battalion Chief Keith Crusius, with the San Antonio Fire Department.
Fire officials believe the blaze started in the back of one home and the wind caused flames to spread to the attic of the home next door.
Officials said both homes are abandoned and no one was living inside. That’s one of the big reasons why crews say the cause of the fire seems suspicious.
“How does any old home catch fire? It’s probably arson, but there’s always strange things that occur. So there’s animals around. Both homes had electricity for some reason, so you just never know,” Crusius said.
Arson investigators are looking into the cause of the fire. Damage to each home is believed to be $50,000-$75,000.
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