Early-morning fire at vacant home likely caused by homeless people trying to stay warm, SAFD says

Fire was called in around 6:30 a.m. in 200 block of Jesse Avenue on city’s West Side

Jesse Street vacant house fire image. (KSAT)

SAN ANTONIO – An early-morning fire at a vacant home on the city’s West Side was likely started by the homeless in an attempt to keep warm, the San Antonio Fire Department said.

The fire was called in around 6:30 a.m. at a vacant house in the 200 block of Jesse Avenue, not far from Old Highway 90 and SW 37th Street.

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Firefighters said when they arrived, they found flames showing. The fire was quickly put out.

A fire captain with the SAFD said the vacant home was being used by homeless people in an attempt to get out of the cold. The back part of the home collapsed as a result of the flames, fire officials said.

No other homes were threatened by the fire. Firefighters searched and do not find anyone inside. The exact cause of the fire is not currently known.

According to the San Antonio Fire Department website, as many as nine units answered the call.


About the Authors

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

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.

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