Frozen hydrants at Texas apartment complex fire force firefighters to shuttle in water: report

Frozen fire hydrants forced firefighters in San Antonio to shuttle in water Thursday to help put out a massive fire at an apartment complex where a building ultimately collapsed, according to a report. 

"It already spread, so a major concern out here was frozen hydrants," said Bexar-Bulverde Volunteer Fire Chief Jerry Bialick. "So, we have no water."

After arriving at the scene, fire crews discovered the blaze had spread quickly, leading to concern over accessing the necessary amount of water, FOX 29 of San Antonio reported. Crews were forced to bring in water through tenders -- firefighting apparatus that helps transport water from a river or other source -- and through tanker trucks, Bialick said. 

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"We've got tenders from all over the area here," Bialick said. "We actually got some, we got more coming in to shovel water into us."

One problem for firefighters, the chief said, was that the apartment buildings were built with no access to the back of the building. 

"It [the water] runs out in just a couple of minutes, we make some good headway and then they run out of water and they have to go get more," he said. "There's a hydrant right in front of the building, it’s frozen stiff and none of the hydrants out here work, and they're all frozen so we're having to shut the water in from fighting distance."

The fire broke out on the second floor of the Stone Oak apartment complex on the city’s North Side from a suspected water tank explosion, FOX 29 reported.

The blaze prompting an evacuation by residents already beleaguered by deadly winter storms that have slammed Texas and neighboring states this week.

Firefighters continued their efforts even after the majority of an apartment building collapsed, according to videos posted on social media.

Cars were also on fire in the area. Bialick said it was too late to save them. 

The department had about eight tanker trucks at the scene and expected roughly four or five more to arrive as firefighters battled the blaze overnight. 

"We'll be here all night," Bialick added. "So, you know it's gonna continue, we don't have the fire stopped yet so we gotta, we gotta, we gotta stop this thing."

A report for the outlet said the apartment had electricity but has not had water since Sunday. 

Earlier video shared by one Twitter user showed the flames spreading to other buildings.

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The historic winter storm has left Texas reeling. Demand for electricity to warm up homes unaccustomed to such extreme lows has overwhelmed the state’s power grid, leaving millions without heat for several days. 

Power was restored to more homes and businesses later Thursday in Texas and other states. But the crisis was far from over in parts of the South, where many people still lacked safe drinking water. 

In Texas on Thursday, some 325,000 homes and businesses remained without power, down from about 3 million on Wednesday. Utility officials cautioned that limited rolling blackouts were still possible. 

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The extreme weather was blamed for the deaths of at least 40 people in Texas and elsewhere, trying to keep warm.  

The Associated Press contributed to this report.