Fire in suspected hoarder house presents challenge for firefighters

Arson investigators looking into cause of fire

SAN ANTONIO – A fire in a home south of downtown presented a number of challenges for firefighters and kept them busy for more than three hours.

It broke out shortly before 4 a.m. Tuesday in a single family home on Weinberg Street, not far from Interstate 35 and Division Avenue.

Police officers who arrived just ahead of fire crews say they saw flames burning from one end of the home to the other.

They say they did not see anyone around the home, but evacuated some neighbors as a precaution.

When firefighters arrived, they quickly began working to knock down the fire.

However, they say they faced several challenges, including the construction of the home.

They said it included a lot of sections that had been added on, as well as a secondary roof on top of the original one.

That allowed the fire to spread into areas that were difficult for firefighters to reach.

In addition, firefighters say, the home was packed with furniture and other items in a fashion that resembled hoarding.

They say although no one lived in the home, it appeared the items were left there by previous tenants.

Arson investigators were called in to find the cause of the fire.

Firefighters say they found signs of a break-in, possibly by homeless people.


About the Authors:

Katrina Webber joined KSAT 12 in December 2009. She reports for Good Morning San Antonio. Katrina was born and raised in Queens, NY, but after living in Gulf Coast states for the past decade, she feels right at home in Texas. It's not unusual to find her singing karaoke or leading a song with her church choir when she's not on-air.

Ben Spicer is a digital journalist who works the early morning shift for KSAT.