SAN ANTONIO — A business that works with lithium ion batteries caught on fire Saturday afternoon near the San Antonio International Airport.
Firefighters from multiple agencies were dispatched to the building on Colwick Drive, and worked to extinguish the flames. Officials said they believe some of the batteries exploded and caused a fire that damaged the roof. It took crews some time to fully extinguish the blaze.
Fire officials said fires caused by these batteries are hard to put out because they rekindle themselves, and they would keep a crew at the scene to monitor the situation. There were some concerns about contaminants in the runoff, but officials said the water was tested and didn't require intervention.
Police had shut down Warfield St. to accommodate firefighters working the blaze. No injuries were reported.
Then over on the Westside two separate fires on South San Eduardo just 5 blocks from each other created a delay in response.
“So when we got here because we had committed companies at the other structure. Now were waiting on further companies that were further away from this address, because the ones that would respond here were at the other San Eduardo address.” Says John Castillo, paramedic
The first fire in the 400 block of South San Eduardo came in at 4:12 p.m. Fire officials say the home was significantly damaged. Officials say the fire was likely started by an AC unit. The second fire was in the 900-block of South San Eduardo, that call came in at 5:47 p.m.
“Conditions were actually tenable. We walked in there, I walked in there. We did the primary search we cut the utilities I just needed fire units,” says Castillo.
Fire officials say its not common to get two working fires, blocks from each other, making it difficult to get units to the second fire. A witness on scene showed us video she recorded on her phone, as the fire spread.
“Home owners made it out ok. They are displaced, there’s a significant damage right now. After investigation it looks like they have it narrowed down to electrical in the wash room,” says Castillo.
This is a developing story.
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