UPDATED- Sunday 1:32 PM: Investigators Recover Bodies From Apartment Fire Scene
City officials are advising residents to avoid the area of LBJ, Ramsay and Clark Streets.
UPDATE Sunday, July 22, 2018 at 1:32 PM
Fire investigators recovered three bodies Sunday morning from the scene of the fire that caused extensive damage at Iconic Village apartments and Vintage Pads apartments early Friday morning.
Justice of the Peace Maggie H. Moreno declared the victims deceased at the scene. They have been transported to the Travis County Medical Examiner’s office for autopsy and identification.
Search and recovery efforts will continue throughout the day. The BATF National Response Team, a resource available to local agencies dealing with fires of this magnitude, is leading the fire investigation in conjunction with the State Fire Marshal’s Office and the City of San Marcos Fire Marshal.
More information will be available on Monday to provide an update on the fire operations and ongoing investigation.
UPDATE 6:30 PM
Shelter Operations Complete; Assistance Center Open Saturday
Shelter operations at the San Marcos Activity Center are complete as no displaced residents requested overnight shelter, and the Activity Center will open tomorrow for normal operations at 10 a.m. Fire and emergency personnel are still on scene as the fire continues to smolder.
The BATF National Response Team, a resource available to local agencies dealing with fires of this magnitude, will lead the fire investigation beginning Saturday morning.
A press conference will be scheduled on Monday to provide an update on the fire operations and ongoing investigation. The time is yet to be determined.
The Family Assistance Center will close at 8 p.m. tonight and open tomorrow from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Resources for Texas State University Students
Texas State University has announced several programs and funds available to students who have been affected by the fire. Information has been emailed to all students, faculty and staff and is posted online at http://safety.txstate.edu/emergency-communications.html. Students needing assistance after hours can contact the non-emergency number for University Police at 512.245.2805, and they will be forwarded to a staff member from Student Emergency Services.
Injuries
One person suffered critical injuries in this morning’s apartment fire and was transported to San Antonio Military Medical Center for treatment. Officials have confirmed that six others suffered non life-threatening injuries with two of these currently receiving treatment in the Seton Medical Center Hays trauma unit, four have been discharged, and five people remain unaccounted for.
Information hotline
An information hotline has been established for residents and people seeking information on their loved ones who were displaced by the fire at Iconic Village Apartments and Vintage Pads Apartments at 512.754.2291. Residents of the Iconic Village and Vintage Pads Apartments who stayed at the properties last night and have not checked in with the City are being asked to call the information hotline as soon as possible.
Shelter, assistance and donations
Limited access to Iconic Village Buildings 100 and 700 will be available to residents beginning tomorrow at 2 p.m. A link to an online signup is available on both the City’s Facebook page, Iconic Village’s Facebook page, and at www.sanmarcostx.gov/apartmentfire for residents to sign up for a 30-minute time slot. Sign up will be available to 10 people for each 30-minute time slot. Residents are allowed to sign up for themselves and one other individual to enter their unit and gather essential items.
A family assistance center has been established for people affected by the fire at Westover Baptist Church, 1310 Advance Street. The center closes at 8 p.m. today and will be open from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Saturday.
Donations may be made to the Blanco River Regional Recovery Team at www.br3t.org, clicking “Donate,” and entering the word “Iconic” in the comments.
The San Marcos Regional Animal Shelter is accepting pets of residents that have been displaced by the fires for temporary safekeeping.
Fire status
Officials estimate that approximately 200 residents have been affected by the fire.
The fire is contained, but firefighting operations are ongoing. Once they are complete, the City of San Marcos Fire Marshal’s office will conduct the investigation in conjunction with the State Fire Marshal’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (BATF).
The fire started just before 4:30 a.m. at Iconic Village Apartments at 222 Ramsay St., engulfing building 500 and moving to building 300. The fire has also damaged one building at Vintage Pads Apartments, located at 1000 N LBJ Drive.
Six people were transported to area hospitals, one in critical condition.
City officials are advising residents to avoid the area of LBJ, Ramsay and Clark Streets. LBJ is blocked between Younger and Walnut Streets, as are the intersections of E. Bluebonnet and Mandalay; W. Bluebonnet and Walnut; and Clark and Walnut.
Surrounding jurisdictions including Kyle, Buda, New Braunfels, South Hays, Seguin and Canyon Lake assisted in fire operations.
UPDATE 4:00 PM:
Residents of the Iconic Village and Vintage Pads Apartments who stayed there last night and have not checked in with the City are being asked to call the information hotline at 512.754.2291.
The individuals are:
James Miranda
Haley Frizzell
Belinda Moats
David Ortiz
Dru Estes.
All buildings at Iconic Village and building L at Vintage Pads apartments will be closed today with no access to residents. Limited access to Iconic Village Buildings 100 and 700 will be available to residents beginning tomorrow at 2 p.m. An online signup will be available on both the City’s Facebook page and Iconic Village’s Facebook page later today for residents to sign up for a 30-minute time slot. Sign up will be available to ten people for each 30-minute time slot.
Fire operations are still underway, and firefighters are searching the buildings as heat and smoke allow. Three of the people who were injured in the fire have been released from Central Texas Medical Center.
Thus far, water quality samples have passed state standards for contaminates, but the river remains closed in the City limits as a precaution due to debris washing down from the firefighting operations. The river will reopen today at 5 p.m. Staff will continue to coordinate with TCEQ and expects no environmental impact to the river from today’s events.
UPDATE 12:31 PM: One person suffered critical injuries in this morning’s apartment fire and was transported to Brooke Army Medical Center for treatment.
Officials have confirmed that five others suffered non life-threatening injuries, and four people remain unaccounted for. Other residents have transported themselves to area hospitals with non life-threatening injuries so the number receiving treatment may increase.
The San Marcos Regional Animal Shelter is accepting pets of residents that have been displaced by the fires for temporary safekeeping.
Kristy Stark, communications director for the City of San Marcos, said the river should be reopened by this afternoon; the closure was “more of a precaution” due to debris from the fire. This weekend’s Float Fest activities shouldn’t be affected.
Donations may be made to the Blanco River Regional Recovery Team at www.br3t.org, clicking “Donate,” and entering the word “Iconic” in the comments.
A family assistance center will be established for people affected by the fire at Westover Baptist Church, 1310 Advance Street.
UPDATE 10:38 AM: At least 200 people have been displaced by the fire that engulfed the Iconic Village apartment complex.
According to San Marcos Fire Marshal Kelly Kissner, 110 units were affected by the fire.
An information hotline has been established for residents and people seeking information on their loved ones who were displaced by the fire at Iconic Village Apartments and Vintage Pads Apartments at 512.754.2291.
Officials said the fire began in one building around 4:27 AM and then spread to another.
As of 6:30 this morning, fire fighters had contained the flames to buildings 3 and 5. A building across the street at Vintage Pads was also damaged.
No information is available on the status of the six people injured in the fire. Seton Medical Center Hays is currently treating two of the six victims.
Fire operations are ongoing. Once they are complete, the City of San Marcos Fire Marshal’s office will conduct the investigation in conjunction with the State Fire Marshal’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.
During the early hours of Friday, July 20, Central Texas Medical Center activated its mass trauma protocol in response to the apartment fire and received four patients.
River closed
Due to runoff from the firefighting efforts into the San Marcos River, the San Marcos River will be closed to swimming and tubing within the City limits.
An early morning apartment fire has injured at least six people and continues to burn as firefighters from San Marcos, New Braunfels and Kyle fight the blaze.
The fire started just before 5 a.m. at Iconic Village Apartments at 222 Ramsay St., engulfing one building and moving to a second building.
Six people have been transported to area hospitals with conditions unknown at this time.
City officials are advising residents to avoid the area of LBJ, Ramsay and Clark Streets. LBJ is blocked between Younger and Walnut Streets, as are the intersections of E. Bluebonnet and Mandalay; W. Bluebonnet and Walnut; and Clark and Walnut.
This is a working incident so there will be more information to follow.
The San Marcos Activity Center, 501 E. Hopkins, has been established as a shelter for people displaced by the fire at Iconic Village Apartments and Vintage Pads Apartments. Central Texas Medical Center is providing meals, and the Red Cross is on site.
Press Conference
The City will hold a press conference at the San Marcos Police Department, 2300 S IH-35, at 10 a.m. to give updates on the fire.
Information hotline
An information hotline will be established later this morning. That number will be publicized once it is ready to receive calls.
