A San Antonio Firefighter was killed early Friday in a major fire on the northwest side, News Radio 1200 WOAI reports.
The fire broke out late Thursday at the Ingram Square shopping center at Ingram and Wurzbach Roads and eventually went to four alarms, with dozens of firefighters answering the alarm.
At one point, several firefighters became trapped inside the burning building.
One firefighter, identified as Scott Deem, a six year veteran of the department, was killed, and two others were hurt.. Both of the injured firefighters are in critical condition. but officials said their injuries are not life threatening.
"We're hurting," Chief Charles Hood said as firefighters saluted as Deem's body was removed from the still smoldering building to a waiting vehicle.
Hood told reporters several firefighters were inside the building looking for any civilians who may have been inside when the decision was made to 'go defensive' as the structure began to collapse. That means firefighters are evacuated die to the unsafe nature of the building which is on fire,
and the focus shifts to preventing the fire from spreading. The other firefighters were rescued.
Hood said 15 to 20 firefighters could have lost had the decision not been made to evacuate the dangerously unsafe building.
The circumstances of the incident that caused the tragedy were not immediately released.
Several units remain on the scene early this morning.. A total of 61 fire units responded to the alarm.. Arson investigators are trying to determine the cause of the tragic fire.