UPDATE:
SAN ANTONIO – The death of a 53-year-old man killed in a house fire on the city's West Side has been ruled accidental, according to officials with the San Antonio Fire Department.
SAFD officials said it appears the fire may have been ignited when the man was cooking breakfast and left the kitchen unattended.
"A fire extending from the cooking area may have started with the victim attempting to extinguish the fire," officials said.
Officials said the man may have tried to escape the fire but due to the smoke and his injuries -- some of which were second-degree burns to his hand -- he was found dead inside his home.
The victim has not yet been identified.
The Fire Department provided cooking safety tips for San Antonio residents:
- Be on alert! If you are sleepy or have consumed alcohol, don’t use the stove or stovetop.
- Stay in the kitchen while you are frying, grilling, boiling, or broiling food.
- If you are simmering, baking, or roasting food, check it regularly, remain in the kitchen while food is cooking, and use a timer to remind you that you are cooking.
- Keep anything that can catch fire — oven mitts, wooden utensils, food packaging, towels or curtains — away from your stovetop.
- Call 911 or the local emergency number after you leave; close doors behind you when leaving (if possible) to help contain the fire.
- If you happen to have a grease fire in the kitchen, the last thing you should do is put water on it. Turn the Heat Off - Don't try to move the pot.
- Keep a lid nearby when you’re cooking to smother small grease fires. Smother the fire by sliding the lid over the pan and turn off the stovetop. Leave the pan covered until it is completely cooled.
- For an oven fire, turn off the heat and keep the door closed.
ORIGINAL STORY:
A man was killed in a house fire on the West Side Thursday morning. Fire crews arrived to the 300 block of Plainview Drive near St. Mary's University to find flames burning through the attic of a home.
Firefighters say Thursday morning's house fire was quickly extinguished. They weren't however able to save the life of the only person inside.
"We quickly went in to do a search and rescue," said Charles Hood, chief of the San Antonio Fire Department. "We found the fire victim in the living room."
The victim is described to be a man in his 50s.
It hasn't been determined where the fire started, however, the damage to the home can be viewed toward the back, away from where the body was found.
"I don't know if it began in the attic, but when we got here it had extended up into the attic," said Hood.
Hood said SAFD has seen a 20% increase in house fires and a 26% increase in apartment fires during 2019. He believes this statistic could be decreased through fire safety education.
Hood specifically called attention to people who use space heaters and may store an excess number of belongings in their homes.
"It increases the fire load and makes it difficult for them to get out and for us to get in," Hood said. "We need to take this opportunity to educate people on fire safety."
In an effort to educate the community on the risk factors and prevention measures, Hood said firefighters will be handing out free smoke detectors throughout the neighborhood.