Fire damages part of WOAI building

SAN ANTONIO - Fire swept through part of the News 4 San Antonio building Tuesday morning.

Fire alarms went off shortly before 5:00 a.m. About 10 minutes later, everyone inside the building was asked to evacuate.

As they walked out of the building, News 4’s crew turned around and found that the second floor of the northwest corner of the building was engulfed in flames. Within minutes, heat from the fire blew out the windows, and a second alarm was sounded. Dozens of firefighters were called to battle the fire and had it under control about an hour.

The station went to black, and our news crew took to broadcasting via social media to keep everyone informed.

"We are grateful for the quick action by the San Antonio Fire Department, that everyone made it out safely and our viewers for reaching out to us with your caring words on Facebook," WOAI-TV General Manager John Seabers said.

Arson is still investigating. However, officials have told News 4 they suspect an electric short may have caused the fire. No injuries were reported.

The entire second floor of the building remains closed. News 4 has set up a temporary news set in the station's parking lot to broadcast Tuesday’s newscasts.


We are posting updates, photos and video on our Facebook page. CLICK HERE...

We are also posting updates on Twitter...
 

The fire destroyed several offices of our old building. It was very scary for News 4 morning crew.

"I turned around and saw all the firefighters coming in," said News 4 morning producer Lynn O'Donnell. Very first thing I said was 'Does anyone in the studio know, in the control room, that we are on fire?'"

Firefighters were in the building, and we were on the air. Ironically, News 4's Kristina De Leon was out at a live shot at another fire when she found out about the fire.

"I got in your (Kristina's) ear and said we have to evacuate the building it's on fire," said News 4 Today Producer Rebecca Reyes. "I got in the anchors ear and said everyone needs to get out!"

That two dozen or so people working inside the building all made it out.

"I still Have my headsets when I came running out the door," News 4 Director John Basham told us.

John also managed to open the back door to make sure everyone got out.

"That's where we load the bands and other shows for the Living show," explained John. It is easiest way out. It just makes sense.

Francis Henderson who works at our assignments desk was just walking into The building. She was greeted by firefighters and let them in.

"We walked outside,and we could see the fire," said Frances. "In the first window and then it spread to the second window."

All of the crew was just happy to be back at work a few hours later. Were all like one big family again.

News 4’s Jozannah Quintanilla talked to one of our employees who first saw the flames coming out of the window.

Nathaniel Gaian, one of our studio cameramen, heard the alarm and walked outside. He saw the flames coming out of the window when they were being evacuated and, thinking like a news person, ran inside and grabbed a camera to get video. Nathaniel snapped the first shots of the fire.

“My first instinct was to shoot and record,” Nathaniel told us. “You never think this will happen.”

Firefighters were at the station within minutes.

“They went through side of building that has stairwell,” explained San Antonio Incident Commander Jesse Davila. “And a large stairwell created easy access to 2nd floor.”

An employee reported the fire and left the door closed which was the best thing to do. Shelly Miles’ quick and safe thinking prevented the fire from spreading by keeping the door closed. Firefighters were able to contain the fire to the office upstairs.

The fire and most of the water damage was limited to the second story of the building. But the smell the smoke on the first floor remained strong as of late Tuesday afternoon.