Firefighter Killed, Two Others Injured In Massive San Antonio Shopping Center Fire

SAN ANTONIO, TX — A San Antonio firefighter was killed and two others were injured Thursday night while battling a massive fire at a shopping center in the city's northwest side, officials confirmed.

Just past midnight on Friday, San Antonio Fire Department Chief Charles Hood confirmed that Scott Deem, a six-year veteran of the department, perished while helping to extinguish the blaze. Two other firefighters were transported to area hospitals, but their conditions were unknown early Friday.

The huge conflagration broke out at the Ingram Park shopping center in the 6800 block of Northwest Loop 410 just past 9 p.m. Thursday night. The size of the four-alarm fire prompted more than 60 fire units to reach the scene.

An emotional fire chief asked the community to keep the community in its prayers during a press conference with reporters. "I would like to ask the citizens of San Antonio for their prayers tonight, because we're hurting," he said as he fought back tears.

Deem is the first SAFD firefighter to die in the line of duty since 1997. According to local media reports, he was the father of two with his wife expecting their third child.

The fire chief explained that after a part of the structure collapsed, the tough decision was made to evacuate the building and fight the fire defensively—leaving Deem behind. A torturous decision, the move likely saved the lives of 15 to 20 other firefighters, Hood explained.

According to local media reports, some 100 firefighters stood in formation while saluting an ambulance carrying Deem's body en route to the Bexar County Medical Examiner's Office just past midnight on Friday.

San Antonio Mayor Ivy Taylor joined others in expressing her condolences.

By Tuesday morning, Gov. Greg Abbott added his own note of condolence he said was shared by the state's First Lady.

"Cecilia and I extend our heartfelt sympathies to the Deem family during this unimaginably difficult time,” Abbott said in a prepared statement. “Those who put their lives on the line to serve others deserve our deepest respect, and we can never say thank you enough. In the days to come, we ask that all Texans join us in sending their well wishes to those injured in this incident for a full and speedy recovery, and in keeping everyone affected by this fire in their thoughts and prayers.”

>>> Image via San Antonio Professional Firefighters Association Facebook page