Rising Vacant Building Fires: Maria Lozano and her family experienced a devastating house fire six months ago. Now, they’re close to being homeless again.
“Nothing remainedno homes, and we lost everything,” Lozano says.
Their new house burned due to a fire in the neighboring empty house, fueled by strong winds from a tropical storm.
“It was a fast, raging fire,” Lozano says, her voice heavy with tragedy.
Victor Villarreal had a similar dream in July, just one month prior.
They sent the fire department, but no help.” That house was on fire and couldn’t be saved,” says Villarreal, who lives near empty homes.
A fire in a nearby empty house on West Poplar felt like a close call.
“It’s been a problem for a while. “I was here three months ago when the house next door caught fire,” Villarreal says, looking concerned.
The increasing fires in vacant houses
The SAFD has data showing an increase in fires in empty buildings.
“Our records show a concerning increase in fires in abandoned buildings,” says Charles Hood, the San Antonio Fire Department chief.
In 2021, 16% of SAFD’s 546 fires were in empty buildings. It included homes and businesses. But the following year, the number rose to 26%, a frightening change.
As of July 31, 29% of SAFD’s fire-related emergency calls were about empty buildings. It highlights the severity of the issue.
Chief Hood attributes the rise to the weather, particularly people seeking shelter from the cold.
Hood explains that homeless individuals used to seek shelter in vacant buildings to stay warm. Now, empty buildings in the city have become meeting places to escape the heat.
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When extinguishing fires, firefighter safety is paramount. The city’s empty buildings are unsafe, so avoid entering.
SAFD is collaborating with the city’s development services department to ensure clear marking of dangerous buildings with 4×4 signs.
Hood says the signs mean the building is officially deemed unsafe by officials.
The department is working on tactical concern reports to guide responding teams in safely and effectively handling cases.
“Knowing fire hydrant locations and risks can save lives during late-night emergencies,” says the chief.
Hood believes these changes will enhance firefighters’ safety in empty, risky buildings. But he says these steps are only short-term fixes to a complex problem.
“Everyone must collaborate to solve this problem. We must prioritize firefighter safety while finding a long-term solution,” says Hood.
SAFD works with Development Services to identify potential hazards through the placarding program. A public records search revealed over 11,000 unsafe or neglected buildings in the city. This number is alarming and highlights the severity of the problem.
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Our Reader’s Queries
What was the worst building fire in US history?
1. The deadliest single building or complex fires and explosions in the U.S. are as follows:
1. The World Trade Center in New York, NY – 2,666 deaths
2. Iroquois Theater in Chicago, IL – 602 deaths
3. Cocoanut Grove nightclub in Boston, MA – 492 deaths
4. Ohio State Penitentiary in Columbus, OH – 320 deaths
These tragic events resulted in a significant loss of life and have left a lasting impact on the communities they affected.
Where do most fires start in commercial buildings?
Restaurants see the most kitchen fires in non-residential buildings, mainly due to neglected maintenance of grease traps, hood suppression systems, and stove exhaust vents. This negligence is often seen with commercial stoves, broilers, and deep fat fryers.
How common are high rise fires?
Annually, approximately 15,500 highrise building fires result in 60 civilian fatalities, 930 injuries, and a staggering $252 million in property damage. These fires are more harmful and destructive compared to all other building fires.
Which city has the most structure fires?
The latest index ranking the top 150 U.S. cities with the highest risk of home fires has identified the top five cities as Modesto, Calif., Shreveport, La., Fresno, Calif., Montgomery, Ala.