SAN MARCOS – Several people are injured, 200 people are displaced, and five people are unaccounted for after a massive apartment fire in San Marcos early Friday morning.
UPDATE:
The San Marcos Fire Department is asking residents from Iconic Village Apartments to move their cars from the parking lot. The city is also contacting car owners directly with instructions to move their cars.
At this time, there has been no update on the five people that were unaccounted for. Police are asking anyone who may have any information regarding their whereabouts to please call the information hotline at 512.754.2291.
Search and recovery efforts inside the buildings directly impacted by the fire will not begin until Sunday morning due to dangerous hotspots and unstable conditions.
ORIGINAL STORY:
The five people who are unaccounted for were identified by the City of San Marcos as James Miranda, Haley Frizzell, Belinda Moats, David Ortiz and Dru Estes. Anyone with information on their whereabouts was urged to call San Marcos' information hotline at 512-754-2291.
The fire started around 5 a.m. at the Iconic apartments, located in the 222 block of Ramsey Street. Starting in one building, the fire moved to the second building, engulfing it in flames.
So far six people are injured and have been transported to local medical facilities for treatment. Two people were flown to the Seton Medical Center in Kyle. One person has a spinal injury and the other has an ankle injury after they jumped out of the building during the fire. The four other people were taken to the Central Texas Medical Center in San Marcos. At least one person has critical injuries and four people are unaccounted for.
The San Marcos Activity Center, at 501 E Hopkins, is acting as a shelter for the residents of the apartments.
Residue from the burned units is seeping into the San Marcos River, the city is asking that people refrain from swimming in the water until given the all clear. Signs will be posted in the affected areas.
The City of San Marcos posted on Facebook urging residents to avoid the area around LBJ, Ramsay and Clark Street.
Road Closures:
- LBJ Drive between Younger Street and Walnut Street
- East Bluebonnet Drive and Mandalay Lane
- West Bluebonnet Drive and Walnut Street
- Clark Street and Walnut Street
San Marcos, New Braunfels and Kyle fire crews are working to control the blaze.
The Red Cross is at the scene assessing the situation and determining how to help the displaced residents. The Central Texas Medical Center is also providing meals to the displaced residents.
The apartment complex is largely made up of student housing. Residents who need help can call the emergency hotline number at 512-754-2291.
At this time the cause of the fire and the extent of the damage is unknown.
