SAN ANTONIO — Officials are investigating an early morning apartment fire in the Medical Center area on the northwest side of town Tuesday.
San Antonio Fire Department responded to the Chisolm Trace Apartments located on the 10500 block of Huebner Road near Fredericksburg Road around 4 a.m.
When first responders arrived at the location, they found flames coming from a heater motor blower in the bathroom of an apartment on the third floor. They created holes in the roof to help ventilate the smoke and extinguish the flames.
Officials say that at least 50 residents were displaced by the blaze and the Red Cross was on hand to help the families.
Muhammad Arif, his wife and five kids were among those displaced.
"Our home, our apartment is damaged with water, not with fire," Arif said.
Muhammad Arif and 2 of his kids and a shot of their water-damaged bathroom
Arif's second-floor apartment is filled with extensive water damage, including gaping holes in the ceilings of the bathroom and bedrooms.
The wet mess is a result of SAFD's fire suppression efforts.
“A lot of damage, a lot of damage, even my kids not able to brush their teeth this morning," Arif said while showing KENS 5 the main bathroom.
Arif and his loved ones came to the U.S. from Afghanistan in 2014. He works as a rideshare driver to financially support his family. The family is holding onto faith as they know personal belongings can be replace but lives cannot.
“When I came from Afghanistan, I came with just a couple bags. Could fit in one U-Haul. If I’m alive, my kids alive, I will get it again. I’m happy we are safe. This is a part of life," Arif said.
Arif stressed he has no plans of moving back into the heavily damaged apartments as it could take months to repair the broke ceilings. He estimates tens of thousands of dollars in damages inside his apartment alone.
“I have no idea what I’m going to do tonight. Have to look for another apartment," Arif said.
No word on the amount of damages caused by the fire and there were no reports of any injuries. Officials are working to determine how the fire started.
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