San Antonio Shopping Center Gutted by Fire

Jan. 16, 2008
It took firefighters about 15 minutes to get the blaze under control, but plenty of damage was done.

SAN ANTONIO --

A huge fire destroyed one business and heavily damaged two others at a popular North Side shopping center Tuesday night.

When firefighters arrived at Artisans Alley in the 500 block of West Bitters Road around 9 p.m., they found flames leaping high into the sky.

"They were huge," Alexa Bernal, manager of Bin 555, said of the flames. "I personally have never seen flames that big or a fire this big. It looked relentless. It looked like it would take a while to get under control."

It took firefighters about 15 minutes to get the blaze under control, but plenty of damage was done.

Furr Kids, a pet clothing store that was getting ready to open for business, was destroyed, as were a couple of other businesses around it.

Most of the businesses were closed at the time except for Bin 555, a restaurant and wine bar, which was evacuated. One firefighter suffered minor injuries.

Fire officials are investigating a cause.

A damage estimate wasn't immediately available.

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