About 30 homes have been evacuated in the area of Silver Mountain Drive. Officials say it started as a controlled burn before getting “out of control.”
SAN ANTONIO — A growing brush fire in south Bexar County has led to the evacuations of about 30 nearby homes as agencies respond, according to officials.
Firefighters initially responded to the 1600 block of Silver Mountain Drive – about 18 miles south of downtown San Antonio – around 2:44 p.m. when an authorized, controlled burn got “out of control” and started spreading quickly to nearby vehicles and homes. A shed has been destroyed by the fire, but no homes.
One firefighter was treated at the scene for heat exhaustion, but no other injuries have been reported, according to authorities.
The Texas A&M Forest Service has dubbed the blaze the Silver Mountain Fire. As of 8:30 p.m., officials said it was 400 acres in size and 30% contained.
“With the assistance from the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office and our law enforcement partners, these homes in direct line of the fire spread were evacuated,” said Mark Montgomery, assistant fire chief with Bexar County Emergency Services District 2.
Lujan said those evacuated can head to Elmendorf City Hall for shelter. Officials said they don’t yet have a timetable for when they might be able to return to their homes.
The San Antonio Fire Department said it was also assisting, and responders from Atascosa County were also seen in the area. Rudy Khalaf, division chief with Bexar County ESD 2, said at least 33 units from 10 fire departments in all were on scene, with aerial water drops also working to help contain the Silver Mountain Fire.
“Wildland personnel will likely be conducting backburns to prevent the fire from spreading to other unaffected areas,” Montgomery said.
This is a developing story.