SAN ANTONIO – Several families were left without a home after a tropical storm spread fire across 4 buildings on the city’s West Side.
San Antonio Fire Department crews responded to the area along Buena Vista Street near West Commerce and South Pinto around 4 p.m. Tuesday.
The fire started in a single-story vacant structure that rapidly spread to nearby homes, SAFD said. They blame swirling winds from tropical storm Harold for spreading the fire.
Fire officials upgraded the fire to a second alarm.
Four buildings, three of which were multi-family structures, were heavily impacted by the fire, SAFD said.
The building where the fire started, and one exposed structure were a total loss, according to officials. The cause is not yet known, but fire officials believe they are dealing with vagrancy.
“They said nothing survived, no apartments we lost everything,” said Maria Lozano as she stood outside in the rain waiting for the Red Cross.
Lozano told KSAT this is the second time a fire has taken her family’s home. In fact, the family had just gotten back on their feet and moved in 6 months prior after being homeless.
“This is my second time, but I need to be strong,” she said.
A dog was also found unharmed after the fire in one of the buildings.
No injuries were reported. The Red Cross will help families who were displaced by the fire.