SAN ANTONIO – A woman and her three children are without a home after a fire ripped through their house Tuesday morning.
The fire happened around 11:15 a.m. at the Northwest Bexar County home, located in the 10200 block of Barron Field near Pue road.
Vilma Ruiz said she returned home Tuesday morning to find her house up in flames and her neighbors trying to fight the fire with water hoses.
"I took the kids to school and came back and the house was on fire," Ruiz said.
Bexar County Emergency Services District Number 2 Division Chief Rudy Khalaf said crews were initially responding to a call for smoke, but when they got to the scene, the fire had already spread through much of the home.
"When they came in, the attic was fully involved and through the roof," Khalaf said. "At that time, the guys were initially going offensive and one of the sides of the structure started to collapse."
Khalaf said there was some fire damage to a next-door neighbor's house, but it was quickly put out and crews were able to keep it from spreading.
Ruiz's house, however, was a total loss.
"The most important thing is that I saved my dog, Piggie, and my kids were at school and myself. We are fine," Ruiz said. "There's a reason for everything in life, but I'm not taking it really bad. It does hurt. I lost everything."
Ruiz said she lived in the house for the last 30 years.
Bexar County Fire Marshals are still working to determine the cause.