Fire Destroys Home on a Sleepy San Angelo Sunday Morning

SAN ANGELO, TX — A fire at a residence in the 600 block of Murphy broke out just before noon.

According to John Basquez, our reporter at the scene, the fire appeared to have started in a small structure in the backyard, then spread to the fence line and spread to the back of the house. Witnesses at the scene told Basquez all occupants were able to evacuate when the fire first started.

The location of the fire:

The entire back side of the home is burned. It appears to be a total loss.

Firefighters responded quickly and extinguished the fire within 10 minutes, leaving just smoldering ruins where the fire was.

The cause of the fire is pending an investigation by the City of San Angelo Fire Marshal’s office.

WATCH: The fire fully engulfs back of San Angelo home:

Update 12:58 p.m.

Battalion Chief Fred Barnett said he saw the smoke when he left the central fire station downtown after hearing the call. Ladder 1 was the first firefighting unit on the scene. That crew quickly extinguished the fire in the garage, Barnett said.

Fire had consumed the garage and the fence and was threatening the house. Barnett said he hopes they were able to save the house. “It has heavy heat and smoke in the kitchen area,” Barnett said.

The home was a rental, leased by a single male and his dog. Both evacuated the house before the fire spread.

Barnett credited the quick reaction by the San Angelo Dispatch for notifying firefighters fast. That allowed for the fast, offensive approach by Ladder 1.

Barnett said the home’s structure was of the style that prevented the fire from spreading through the attic. That helped save the main structure.

For now, unfortunately, the home is uninhabitable. The American Red Cross is helping the tenant find temporary housing. AEP was seen at the location cutting the main power.

“The fire melted the power meter off the side of the outside wall,” Barnett said.