SAN ANTONIO — Discarded fireworks may be to blame for a fire that spread from one home to another early Wednesday morning, fire officials say.
Bexar County Fire, as well as Helotes Fire Department, responded to the 11800 block of Knobsy Way on the far west side around 1:15 a.m. for reports of a fire.
When they arrived at the location, they found heavy fire and smoke coming from a two-story home. They believe that a fence ignited first, followed by the attic-area of the garage on the first home, which then ignited the garage of the second home.
The first home that caught fire displaced two adults and two children, while two adults and one child lived in the second one damaged.
Luckily, no injuries were reported.
A fire official says evidence shows that discarded fireworks in a trashcan most likely started the fire.
Officials recommend that fireworks be soaked in a bucket of water overnight before being discarded.
Both houses suffered significant damage from the fire. The garage roof of one of the homes collapsed. The total damages to both homes that were damaged is estimated to be around $400,000.
Fire Marshal investigators determined that one of the people who lived in the home had discarded leftover debris from fireworks they lit earlier in the night without properly soaking in water as officials recommended. The trash bin was then left next to the fence, where the debris ultimately reignited and set the bin on fire.
Officials remind people to properly extinguish fireworks to avoid fires.
“Safe handling of fireworks includes the time after the show is done," said Bexar County Fire Marshal Chris Lopez. "Dunk the remains in a bucket of water and let it soak before you put them into the trash. That way you don’t wake up to your house on fire.”
This is a developing story.
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