Northeast Side auto shop destroyed in afternoon fire

An automotive shop on the city's Northeast Side was destroyed Wednesday afternoon when a fire swept through the building.

The fire was reported just after 1:30 p.m. at Tilden Complete Car Care Center in the 9700 block of Perrin Beitel Road.

Employees said they were working on a vehicle when the fire started. They were able to get out safely.

The fire spread quickly throughout the building and firefighters encountered large flames when they arrived.

Firefighters utilized all of their resources in the battle, including dumping water on top of the building from an aerial ladder truck.

"Firefighters did a tremendous job of containing the fire to this just one building. As you can see behind me, the building neighbors a Dairy Queen restaurant. Flames got really close to the awning of that restaurant. It could have very easily spread to that restaurant," San Antonio Fire Department spokesman Christian Bove said.

The Fire Department said the building is a total loss.