Two Firefighters Hurt As Crews Battle Major Blaze in Vacant Apartment Complex; Expect Delays Nearby
5231 Blanco Rd
Published · Updated
Summary
- A stubborn three-alarm fire is burning through a vacant, boarded-up apartment complex on San Antonio’s North Side, and two firefighters were hurt.
- The fire at the Sante Fe Apartments off Blanco Road near Gilbert Lane started just after 5:30 a.m. Wednesday, and about 150 firefighters have responded.
- It’s now too dangerous to fight the fire from inside, because parts of the floors and roof have collapsed, so crews are battling it from outside.
- Expect traffic delays on Blanco Road, and expect crews to be on scene for several hours. The cause is under investigation.
Timeline
The cause is under investigation. Fire investigators can’t enter the building until the fire is out and the structure is safe, and officials haven’t said whether the fire was intentionally set.
Firefighters are expected to remain on scene for several hours. Drivers should expect traffic delays along Blanco Road during the morning commute.
Crews haven’t found anyone inside the building, and no one has been reported missing.
Early indications are that the fire started on the first floor and spread to the second floor and other sections of the complex.
The floor collapse led commanders to upgrade the response to a second alarm. The fire was later upgraded to a third alarm as it kept spreading through the large, H-shaped building.
A second firefighter suffered minor burns to the hands and was taken to a hospital for treatment as a precaution.
While searching, one firefighter fell through a floor weakened by the fire. A ladder was used to get him out quickly, and he wasn’t seriously hurt and didn’t need to go to the hospital.
Crews arrived to heavy flames inside the boarded-up complex and forced their way in. They went in because they couldn’t rule out that someone was sheltering inside.
The fire started just after 5:30 a.m. Wednesday, and about 150 firefighters have responded.
A three-alarm fire is burning at the vacant Sante Fe Apartments off Blanco Road near Gilbert Lane on San Antonio’s North Side, according to the San Antonio Fire Department.
A 911 caller has reported an unconfirmed incident at 5231 Blanco Rd.
The cause is under investigation. Fire investigators can’t enter the building until the fire is out and the structure is safe, and officials haven’t said whether the fire was intentionally set.
Firefighters are expected to remain on scene for several hours. Drivers should expect traffic delays along Blanco Road during the morning commute.
Crews haven’t found anyone inside the building, and no one has been reported missing.
Early indications are that the fire started on the first floor and spread to the second floor and other sections of the complex.
The floor collapse led commanders to upgrade the response to a second alarm. The fire was later upgraded to a third alarm as it kept spreading through the large, H-shaped building.
A second firefighter suffered minor burns to the hands and was taken to a hospital for treatment as a precaution.
While searching, one firefighter fell through a floor weakened by the fire. A ladder was used to get him out quickly, and he wasn’t seriously hurt and didn’t need to go to the hospital.
Crews arrived to heavy flames inside the boarded-up complex and forced their way in. They went in because they couldn’t rule out that someone was sheltering inside.
The fire started just after 5:30 a.m. Wednesday, and about 150 firefighters have responded.
A three-alarm fire is burning at the vacant Sante Fe Apartments off Blanco Road near Gilbert Lane on San Antonio’s North Side, according to the San Antonio Fire Department.
A 911 caller has reported an unconfirmed incident at 5231 Blanco Rd.
The cause is under investigation. Fire investigators can’t enter the building until the fire is out and the structure is safe, and officials haven’t said whether the fire was intentionally set.
Firefighters are expected to remain on scene for several hours. Drivers should expect traffic delays along Blanco Road during the morning commute.
Crews haven’t found anyone inside the building, and no one has been reported missing.
Early indications are that the fire started on the first floor and spread to the second floor and other sections of the complex.
The floor collapse led commanders to upgrade the response to a second alarm. The fire was later upgraded to a third alarm as it kept spreading through the large, H-shaped building.
A second firefighter suffered minor burns to the hands and was taken to a hospital for treatment as a precaution.
While searching, one firefighter fell through a floor weakened by the fire. A ladder was used to get him out quickly, and he wasn’t seriously hurt and didn’t need to go to the hospital.
Crews arrived to heavy flames inside the boarded-up complex and forced their way in. They went in because they couldn’t rule out that someone was sheltering inside.
The fire started just after 5:30 a.m. Wednesday, and about 150 firefighters have responded.
A three-alarm fire is burning at the vacant Sante Fe Apartments off Blanco Road near Gilbert Lane on San Antonio’s North Side, according to the San Antonio Fire Department.
A 911 caller has reported an unconfirmed incident at 5231 Blanco Rd.
The cause is under investigation. Fire investigators can’t enter the building until the fire is out and the structure is safe, and officials haven’t said whether the fire was intentionally set.
Firefighters are expected to remain on scene for several hours. Drivers should expect traffic delays along Blanco Road during the morning commute.
Crews haven’t found anyone inside the building, and no one has been reported missing.
Early indications are that the fire started on the first floor and spread to the second floor and other sections of the complex.
The floor collapse led commanders to upgrade the response to a second alarm. The fire was later upgraded to a third alarm as it kept spreading through the large, H-shaped building.
A second firefighter suffered minor burns to the hands and was taken to a hospital for treatment as a precaution.
While searching, one firefighter fell through a floor weakened by the fire. A ladder was used to get him out quickly, and he wasn’t seriously hurt and didn’t need to go to the hospital.
Crews arrived to heavy flames inside the boarded-up complex and forced their way in. They went in because they couldn’t rule out that someone was sheltering inside.
The fire started just after 5:30 a.m. Wednesday, and about 150 firefighters have responded.
A three-alarm fire is burning at the vacant Sante Fe Apartments off Blanco Road near Gilbert Lane on San Antonio’s North Side, according to the San Antonio Fire Department.
A 911 caller has reported an unconfirmed incident at 5231 Blanco Rd.
The cause is under investigation. Fire investigators can’t enter the building until the fire is out and the structure is safe, and officials haven’t said whether the fire was intentionally set.
Firefighters are expected to remain on scene for several hours. Drivers should expect traffic delays along Blanco Road during the morning commute.
Crews haven’t found anyone inside the building, and no one has been reported missing.
Early indications are that the fire started on the first floor and spread to the second floor and other sections of the complex.
The floor collapse led commanders to upgrade the response to a second alarm. The fire was later upgraded to a third alarm as it kept spreading through the large, H-shaped building.
A second firefighter suffered minor burns to the hands and was taken to a hospital for treatment as a precaution.
While searching, one firefighter fell through a floor weakened by the fire. A ladder was used to get him out quickly, and he wasn’t seriously hurt and didn’t need to go to the hospital.
Crews arrived to heavy flames inside the boarded-up complex and forced their way in. They went in because they couldn’t rule out that someone was sheltering inside.
The fire started just after 5:30 a.m. Wednesday, and about 150 firefighters have responded.
A three-alarm fire is burning at the vacant Sante Fe Apartments off Blanco Road near Gilbert Lane on San Antonio’s North Side, according to the San Antonio Fire Department.
A 911 caller has reported an unconfirmed incident at 5231 Blanco Rd.
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