SAN ANTONIO – Arson investigators are looking into a string of fires that broke out at two Northwest Side apartment complexes early Wednesday morning.
The fire that caused the most damage shut down Callaghan Road for several hours. While firefighters put out the blaze quickly at Alamo Hillside Apartments, the fire caused a lot of damage.
The fire, which started at 3:30 a.m., started at a ground floor apartment and spread to a unit right above it. While only two units were destroyed, six families were displaced.
"More than two families are displaced because there was some damage to the electrical panel and we will not be able to provide them with electricity," said San Antonio Fire Department Battalion Chief Thomas McNulty. "I expect that to be resolved fairly quickly by apartment management by tomorrow."
Investigators believe the fire was set intentionally. They said a burning wreath may have been thrown onto the apartment building.
Three hours before that, three smaller fires were reported across the street at the Cordoba Apartments. Fire crews said one fire started outside an apartment door, another started inside a car in the parking lot and the third in an upstairs breezeway.
Police said witnesses told them they saw a man acting suspiciously and walking away. San Antonio police launched its Eagle helicopter but the man wasn't located.
The string of blazes is scary for Gilberto Silva, a resident at Alamo Hillside. Silva said he can't believe someone may have set fire to his complex on purpose.
"What are my thoughts about this place? I want to leave ASAP," Silva said.
Just like the rest of the apartment community, Silva hopes his many questions can be answered soon.
No one was injured in the fires.