BEXAR COUNTY, Texas – When the Bexar County Commissioners Court reconvenes next week, county fire officials said Wednesday that they will recommend a burn ban after hundreds of acres went up in smoke.
During a Wednesday news conference, Bexar County Fire Marshal Chris Lopez revealed that he spoke with Bexar County Judge Peter Sakai earlier in the day. Lopez told the judge that he will suggest the ban at the commissioners court’s meeting on Aug. 12.
According to Lopez, the county has not received much rain over the last three weeks, which has caused the county’s drought index to rise.
“Between now and then (the commissioners court meeting on Aug. 12), we really want every citizen that’s out there in unincorporated Bexar County — and really even those that are in the smaller jurisdictions — our partners with the suburban cities," Lopez said. “You saw what happened here over this last 24-hour period. It could easily happen anywhere else in Bexar County.”
The fire marshal suggested county residents refrain from burning items on their property.
“It is too dry for you to be burning in the county,” Lopez said.
Earlier estimates from officials mapped the fire out at more than 300 acres of land.
Bexar County Emergency Services District #2 Assistant Fire Chief Mark Montgomery said Wednesday that the fire actually encompassed 262 acres in south Bexar County.
The fire is currently 95% contained, according to an 3:24 p.m. Wednesday update from the Texas A&M Forest Service.
The fire has been ruled accidental after a controlled burn became unmanageable.
Lopez said a property owner was burning trash on their land before it began to spread. The owner did not have an adequate water supply at their disposal, which caused the fire to spread.
As the fire spread, it engulfed the owner’s barn.
The fire has been ruled an accident. The owner was given a formal “notice of violation,” which Lopez said is similar to receiving a warning during a law enforcement traffic stop.
While the owner will not be facing any criminal charges for the fire, Lopez said things could have been much different if additional property owners lost structures.
“Had it been a situation where the recklessness had caused the damage or, in this case, a complete loss of a structure of somebody else, we may be talking about a whole different situation because, at that point — the recklessness — they could be charged with the crime of arson," Lopez said on Wednesday afternoon.
The fire, which the Texas A&M Forest Service called the “Silver Mountain Fire,” was considered 70% contained earlier Wednesday.
Officials estimated it will continue to burn for a few days.
There has been no loss of any other homes or structures at this time.
Some evacuated residents are being partially allowed to return to their homes around midnight. In a Facebook post around 3:30 a.m. Wednesday, the fire marshal advised all residents that they were being allowed to return home.
Those who still need shelter can go to Elmendorf City Hall. The City of Elmendorf and the Bexar County Office of Emergency Management said it will remain open throughout the night and throughout Wednesday.
Bulldozers have cut fire lines in the ground to keep the fire away from homes.
Background
Firefighters are continuing to battle a brush fire in south Bexar County that has grown to more than 300 acres, according to officials.
An official with the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office told KSAT the fire started on the south side of Silver Mountain Drive, which is located south of Loop 1604 and east of Applewhite Road.
A public information officer with Texas A&M Forest Service said aerial mapping originally showed the fire at around 400 acres, but ground mapping recorded the fire spanning more than 300 acres.
A Bexar County official told KSAT the fire started when a controlled burn got out of hand.
No civilian or livestock injuries have been reported, officials said. One firefighter was treated for heat exhaustion at the scene and later released.
Officials have ordered some residents on the south side of Silver Mountain Drive to evacuate. Evacuees can seek refuge at Elmendorf City Hall, the sheriff’s office said earlier Tuesday afternoon.
In a Tuesday night post on Facebook, state Rep. John Lujan said 30 homes in the area are under the evacuation order.
Lujan said the San Antonio Police Department is also using “aerial water drops” to fight the fire.
Camila Ojeda, a nearby resident who lives with her mother and father, said “we’re just waiting to get the clear because we live, not exactly on Silver Mountain, but a street beforehand, and we need to get some medications and our pets.”
Ojeda said when she got off work at 5 p.m., her residence was already blocked off by responding fire units.
She said she is concerned for the safety of the horses, goats and dogs her family has on the property.
Ojeda said in the five years she has lived in the area, this is the second time a fire has happened.
BCSO previously said the fire was traveling east toward Silver Saddle Drive, but it is unclear if it has reached Trumbo Road, which is located east of Silver Saddle Drive.
Sheriff’s deputies will remain on scene in case more evacuations are ordered, officials said.
A Bexar County Office of Emergency Management official said residents can sign up for the State of Texas Emergency Assistance Registry to let emergency responders know of any specific additional assistance that may be needed ahead of evacuation events.
This is a developing story. Check back for more updates.
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