Virginia Centeno is leaning on community support as she’s left to rebuild after a fire tore through her east-side home.
SAN ANTONIO — Virginia Centeno has called her house on the 3000 block of Tillie Drive home for 59 years. But on the night of Sept. 30, flames engulfed the back side of the home, leaving behind only soot, ash and heartbreak.
“I saw my boys grow up,” Centeno said. “A lot of things happened here. I was hoping I could live the rest of my life here.”
The San Antonio Fire Department responded to the scene around 9:30 p.m. near South WW White Road. While all family members made it out safely, their cat, Savannah, did not survive.
Centeno’s son, Michael, is now taking on the heavy task of helping his mother start over.
“Having to rebuild, and my mom’s 83 years old… words for me inside can’t explain,” he said. “I hold my emotions in, but behind closed doors, I’m breaking down pretty much.”
The family said the home was previously insured, but they had recently paused coverage to save money. They planned to restart it at the end of November — just one month too late.
“The insurance was going to get too high. So we were going to save,” Michael said.
While the fire’s official cause is still under investigation, officials say at least 75% of the home was damaged. The family is now relying on the support of the community — including donations through a GoFundMe page — as they begin the long road to recovery.
“Like I always say, we need to move forward,” Virginia said. “Have hope and faith that things will turn out for the better.”
To support the family, click here for the GoFundMe link.