It took seven minutes, following years of neighbor complaints and frequent police calls.
SAN ANTONIO — It took a city demolition crew from the Public Works Department just seven minutes to bring a fire-ravaged 73-year-old east San Antonio home to the ground Tuesday morning.
The wrecking crew moved in after firefighters made quick work of a blaze that was called in around 6 a.m. on Burnet Street near North Walters.
It’s a move neighbors hope will bring them some peace after more than two years of complaints about a structure where police have responded to trouble dozens of times.
Police records indicate there have been eight calls in the last seven days alone and 11 more in the month of August.
The rest of 2025 has numerous complaints for suspicious activity, thefts and disturbances.
Additionally, Code Compliance provided the following summary of issues:
“For the past year, code history included:
- 5 administrative hearings
- 1 dangerous premise
- 4 overgrown yard
- 1 work order for abatement by city for overgrown yard
- 3 property maintenance (water leak, issues with inside of the home)
- 3 for water issues (sewer leak, water accumulation – mosquito breeding ground)
- 1 zoning investigation
- 2 inoperable vehicles”
Police officers familiar with the area say when the long-time owner of the home died, the property got tied up in the probate process and conditions started to grow more dangerous as time passed.
One neighbor said she had grown so weary of the trouble that she was ready to sell her home and move on.
Another said people who buy illegal drugs nearby can often be seen using the backyard as a place to hide and use the contraband.
During the morning fire, the carport of the neighboring home was scorched and a car in the driveway sustained heat damage when the paint bubbled and the side view mirror melted and dripped to the ground.
Assistant City Attorney Savita Rai provided the following response about the history of the enforcement action:
“The property on Burnet was the target of a DART investigation due to a documented history of criminal activity including shootings and narcotics. The DART inspection occurred on July 8, 2025. The DART Unit met with the joint property owners and attempted to obtain voluntary compliance following the inspection. After this attempt failed, Code Enforcement had no option but to issue a notice to vacate due to the structural and electrical hazards on July 21, 2025. Power was disconnected by the City after failure to comply with the Vacate Order in order to eliminate the hazards. The property was being prepared to be presented to the Building Standards Board. Unfortunately, as you are aware, the property caught on fire and was demolished as an emergency by the City’s Public Works Department.”
More information about the process related to enforcement actions can be found on the city’s website.