SAN ANTONIO – Seven people are without a home after the East Side house where they lived was destroyed by a fire early Wednesday morning.
The fire was reported just after 6 a.m. in the 1400 block of East Carson Street, in the Government Hill neighborhood, across from JBSA-Fort Sam Houston.
The San Antonio Fire Department said they were at the scene of a motor vehicle crash involving a pedestrian just down the street when they saw the fire.
A family of four who lived inside the house said parts of the home had been rented out to three different tenants and seven people lived in the house in total. Everyone inside made it out safely, including an 8-year-old child and two dogs. The home however was completely destroyed, the family said.
Fire officials say a man was living in a car in the back of the home and three of the rooms had been rented out by the landlord.
The fire is believed to have started in the back of the house. It is not exactly clear what sparked the flames. The fire quickly spread and engulfed the house, and flames could be seen shooting out of the home.
The SAFD said it took 25 minutes for firefighters to knock down the fire. An arson investigation team is now trying to figure out the exact cause. The home is considered to be unlivable.
A CPS Energy crew at the scene had to turn off the electricity to the home for emergency crews to work. They also had to turn off several power lines located in the area.
According to the San Antonio Fire Department website, as many as 11 units answered the call.