SAN ANTONIO — It’s a mystery with an estimated price tag of three to five million dollars.
74-year-old Fred Bonilla, who started his Spa Crafters business in his garage with a $1,000 investment 45 years ago, said he built the business once and he is already hard at work re-building it now.
The storage area in the back section of the award-winning spa business was gutted by a fire Sunday that was so intense the smoke could be seen across three counties.
“The gates were closed. Nobody was working back there. I have no electricity. No flammables,” Bonilla said, trying to make sense of what he believes is senseless.
The fire department has not ruled on the cause of the fire which was so intense, they called for a second alarm almost as soon as they arrived on scene on Loop 1604 East near Redland Road.
Describing some of the items lost in the fire, Bonilla said about 60 hot tubs and about 20 swim spas went up like gasoline had spilled.
“The fire was so hot, the big metal I-beams on the awning melted and bent,” Bonilla said.
Bonilla said “We lost five vehicles, all totally smoked, burned to the ground and service vehicles full of parts, delivery trucks. It’s a big mess.”
With regard to what happened, Bonilla said he is at a loss. “I have zero answers. They’ve (fire department) never even contacted me. Nothing. No answers to my questions. They’ve never been back out here at all,” Bonilla said.
Bonilla said there was one shed where chemicals were stored but no obvious source of ignition. “Chemicals can ignite, but there’s nothing there to start it,” Bonilla said.
Bonilla said he was out of town when he was notified of the fire and he raced back to find a smoldering hulk. He said family members who had been on scene earlier told him they had concerns about the amount of time it took to get water on the fire. “I’ve been told they were calling for water and there was no water,” Bonilla said.
“I have two hydrants, right adjacent, on each corner of my building and I don’t understand why those weren’t working, or if they were, why didn’t they use those,” Bonilla said.
Bonilla said he needs to know more about a secure water supply.
“What concerns me is who is responsible for water? Is it the city? Or is it the fire department to check these hydrants, because if there’s no water, how are you going to put my fire out?” Bonilla said.
San Antonio Fire Department spokesman Joe Arrington said there are both public and private fire hydrants in the area and each has a dedicated role in fire suppression.
“Per the fire code for construction, hydrant installation, maintenance and inspections are required upon development of a property that is larger or further removed from a hydrant on a water main and they must support fire suppression systems,” Arrington said, adding “These hydrants are often on the “end loop” off of the water main so the pressure is often less than the municipal hydrants located on the water main line.”
Arrington said it’s important to remember that fire engines arrive on scenes carrying enough water to initiate an attack on the fire while firefighters work to establish hydrant connections.
“In this case the private hydrant could not support the amount of water needed to fight a fire of this size, so that is why we tapped into the hydrant further away that was on the main,” Arrington said.
With regard to water pressure and hydrants in the area, the San Antonio Water System provided the following statement:
“SAWS has a strong working relationship with San Antonio Fire Department to ensure the safety of our customers.
On Sunday, SAWS Emergency Operations Center received a call for increased pressure for firefighting at the Spa Crafters business on 1604 near Redland Road. Pressure was already at 100 psi, but we were able to boost it to 116 psi for firefighting. We did not receive any feedback after the fire of further issues.
We have since gone back to the fire hydrants in use at the time and they have tested to be in good working order. Anne Kenny Hayden / SAWS Director, Communications”
Bonilla said a sprinkler system inside the main building was activated and saved much of his building and contents.
“We will survive because people are calling us every day,” Bonilla said, adding “We will come back. We definitely will. We sold one spa yesterday. They wrote me a check. We’ll deliver it next week.”
Getting re-established though, he said, has it’s challenges.
“I’ve been calling around to find a warehouse space that I can use temporarily but nobody will give me a short-term deal,” Bonilla said of his one big unmet need. “I’ll rent it. I don’t expect it for free, but so far everyone wants a one-year commitment.”
As for the cause of the fire, Arrington said the investigation is still underway but there may not be an answer.
“Due to the amount of damage it will likely be carried as undetermined,” Arrington said.
Original News Source
Click here for Superior HOA Management