A group of Beacon Hill neighbors ran to help put out a backyard fire between two homes on New Year’s Eve.
SAN ANTONIO — It was a grueling start to the new year for San Antonio firefighters. Overnight several homes were consumed by flames. Many were left destroyed. However, two homes in the Beacon Hill Neighborhood remain standing, thanks to the help from neighbors.
Sophie Martinez and her family were outside their home, watching in concern as fireworks lit up the sky. She said she stayed home for this very reason, to make sure nothing bad happened.
“The fireworks we noticed were really low to the ground,” Sophie said.
Unfortunately, her fears became reality when she saw flames in her neighbor’s backyard. Her son, Steven Martinez, jumped into action.
“Immediately impulse just kicked in and I just started helping everyone out,” Steven said.
He said he ran to the homes off West Lynwood Avenue where one neighbor had already pulled out a water hose and began fighting the flames. So, Steven said he went to the other yard to find another hose.
“I saw that the fire was going towards the water heater, so I ran towards the back and my uncle was holding the door open, I went in, we unraveled it and I just kind of attacked it from there,” Steven said.
Both homeowners were out of town. Steven said for 20 minutes, they battled the blaze and waited for SAFD to show up.
“It was surprising how fast it spread, you know, very fast,” Sophie said.
One homeowner still has not returned so it is unclear just how much damage their home has. However, the other home was practically untouched. The only damage was to a shed in the backyard and the fence.
Sophie and Steven said they were able to speak with that homeowner on Wednesday.
“He was just pretty much thankful for what happened,” Steven said. “He was kind of just concerned.”
While firefighters have not determined a cause for the fire, they believe it was because of those fireworks.
“People still take the risks, every year something like this happens,” Sophie said.
No one was injured in the fire. Steven said when he spoke with firefighters, they thanked them for their work containing the fire.
He said most of the flames were put out by the time they arrived.