SAN ANTONIO – The City of San Antonio Development Services Department is seeking an emergency demolition of a two-story home that was destroyed by a huge fire Monday on the city's near West Side.
City officials plan to meet with the homeowner when he returns from visiting family out-of-town.
The homeowner will probably have to decide whether to hire a company to tear down the home, or allow the city to demolish it.
When the homeowner arrives, he will see the charred remains of his home for the first time since the fire broke out around 5 p.m. Monday.
Toby Ramirez, who lives behind the home, said his neighbor has plans for the home.
"He was trying to renovate it. It was an older home, so he was trying to do what he could," Ramirez said.
Ramirez said he was terrified he would lose his home of 30 years, but luckily, his home only sustained smoke and water damage.
"I went straight to church right after everything happened, and I thanked Jesus," Ramirez said.
Ramirez said flames shot 30 to 40 feet into the air.
"Probably higher. I had a friend that told me that he could see the smoke from (Highway) 151 and (Loop) 1604," he said.
Ramirez said his neighbor's home was fully engulfed in 10 to 15 minutes.
Fire officials are still looking into what caused the massive blaze.
Not only was the fire destructive, but also stubborn.
Firefighters had to return to the scene twice Tuesday morning to wet down smoldering hot spots, according to another neighbor.