The cold weather led to three separate fires in the city overnight, sending two people to hospitals, News Radio 1200 WOAI reports.
The first fire actually started when police were at the house.
Police were called to the 1200 block of Quintana Road, on the west side, after officers were told that a family member was trying to sell a stolen gun.
When officers arrived and confronted the suspect, they noticed the house was on fire.
The suspect tried to run but was captured, and was taken to the hospital for treatment of smoke inhalation.. Officers say he set the fire in hopes of using the confusion to escape.
Two homeless men set a fire in the 2500 block of Guadalupe St, also on the west side, in an attempt to stay warm.. The fire spread to some trash, and when the men tried to put it out, one of the men was critically burned. burned, He is hospitalized.
Firefighters were then called to the south side, for a house fire on Hunter St, which is near Palo Alto College.
A water heater is blamed for that fire, which spread to the house and caused significant damage.
A man who lived in the house escaped into the bitter cold morning and was unhurt.