Remote Start on Car Started Fire that Destroyed a San Angelo Family's Home

The fire appeared to have started as a vehicle fire said Fire Marshal Ross Coleman. According to his interview with the renter, an occupant of the house started the 2014 Chevrolet Silverado pickup via its remote start feature. The vehicle’s motor was running for about 10 minutes when it caught on fire. The burning home is located on the 200 block of Oakwood near the intersection with Christoval Road, near Goodfellow AFB.

The fire quickly spread to the rest of the building. Coleman said the garage and the rear of the house, along with a portable building, were engulfed in flames.

There were three occupants in the house when the fire broke out—mom and dad, and their son. They all got out of the home safely, along with the family dog.

Coleman said 21 personnel from the fire department were still battling the blaze as of 9 a.m. Two engines, a ladder truck and a rescue unit responded, in addition to an ambulance. Backup crews were on the way shortly after 9 a.m. to provide relief to the first responders.

Coleman said the house was filled with smoke and smoke damage is assured throughout the property that did not burn.

“It looks like a substantial loss,” Coleman said. “There’s a lot of smoke damage, the back of the house is completely opened up, so it looks like we’re going to have to board this [house] up for a while.”

The Red Cross has been mobilized to provide housing and relief for the family.

Update 9:35 a.m.

Anthony Baca is the man of the burning house.

“I was just getting ready for work. I did the remote start on the truck to get it to start warming up. Maybe about 10 minutes passed by. I was in the bathroom brushing my teeth, and my stepson said he could smell smoke, asking if we’re burning something. He (the son) went outside, and yelled ‘It’s outside, it’s outside!’” Baca said.

Outside, Baca witnessed his truck cab filled with smoke. So he ran inside to fetch the keys to try to shut the vehicle off. “But by the time I got back, flames were already coming outside the vehicle, and had already spread to the carport.”

He said when he returned to inside the house, smoke inside was already overwhelming. He fetched his dogs and made sure the family was out. Baca said he has three kids; two were already in school.

Anthony said his parents live in San Angelo, as does his girlfriend’s parents. “We’ve got a place to stay,” he said.

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Addition: The vehicle was a 2000 Chevrolet pickup, and added to the story.

Addition 2: Confirmed with the SAFD Fire Marshal's office that the truck was a 2014 Chevrolet Silverado pickup.