Rising concern about homeless community after SAFD responds to two vacant building fires

SAN ANTONIO — The San Antonio Fire Department is investigating two abandoned building fires within 24 hours of each other that neighbors and officials suspect may be tied to homelessness.

One of the fires happened on Christmas night at a vacant house blocks away from Burbank High School on the south side. Dozens of firefighters battled the blaze, which threatened nearby homes.

Anthony Cantu had just gotten home when he saw the next-door chaos. He worried about his mother’s safety since she was home when the fire broke out.

“When I drove up I seen the smoke, I thought my house was on fire,” Cantu said. “They knocked it out pretty quick.” 

Cantu suspects homeless people somehow sparked the fire in the home that’s been vacant for at least 30 years. The house was in the process of being renovated. But now, the building remains a smoldering mess.

“More than likely it was someone trying to keep warm,” Cantu said. “There’s been at times homeless people would break in and sleep in there.”

San Antonio firefighters also responded to a high-rise fire at the vacant Embassy Suites hotel on the northwest side near I-10 and Callaghan Road.

Officials said the fire started on the first floor and two people got out of the building. One of the individuals was taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Arson investigators are looking into a possible cause.

As colder weather sweeps through San Antonio, several non-profits ramp up their outreach efforts for the homeless community. It’s not uncommon for houseless people to seek shelter in vacant buildings.

Corazon Ministries provides an array of services for people impacted by homelessness across the Alamo City.

Erika Borrego, the organization’s president and CEO noted Corazon Ministries works alongside other non-profits and the City of San Antonio to offer assistance to houseless individuals.

“We’ve served over 40,000 meals. We see an average of 200 clients come to our day center every single day,” Borrego said. “That’s kind of how we can help is providing respite during the day, referrals and or case management and assisting them in getting out of homelessness.”