Video recorded from inside a car captured the emotional aftermath as residents watched flames consume the building.
SAN ANTONIO — A late-night fire Thursday left multiple families displaced after flames tore through a west-side apartment complex in what residents describe as a freak accident.
The fire broke out around 10:30 p.m. at the Tigoni Villas Apartments on West Sunshine Drive near Bandera Road. According to the San Antonio Fire Department, crews believe a lightning strike may have sparked the blaze after it started in the attic.
Video recorded from inside a car captured the emotional aftermath as residents watched flames consume the building. In one moment, a mother can be heard comforting her daughter, saying, “It’s ok, it’s ok.”
For the Moreno family, the fire destroyed the home they had lived in for the past decade.
“Five siblings, mom, stepdad,” said Evette Gill, speaking on behalf of her family. “It wasn’t because of neglect. It wasn’t because they were being irresponsible. It was a freak accident that you literally only see in the news.”
Firefighters said the blaze damaged between eight and 12 apartment units. While everyone inside escaped safely, many families lost nearly everything they owned.
“We’re looking at a 95% loss of everything,” Gill said. “Water damage, soot damage.”
The family is also searching for their two missing cats, Dusty and Tumbleweed, who may have escaped during the chaos.
“We don’t know if they may have ran out when the firefighters went through,” Gill said.
Despite the devastation, the Moreno family says support from the community has already begun helping them move forward. They’ve launched a GoFundMe to help cover immediate expenses while they wait for insurance assistance.
“We do need a little help while we wait for the process of insurance, and that can be a lengthy process,” Gill said. “We just need things for right now.”
Although the fire has faded, the family says the community’s support has given them hope.
“With the donations we’ve already received, it’s given us a light at the end of the tunnel,” Gill said.
Firefighters said everyone made it out of the building safely.
To support the Moreno family, click here.