Saddlebrook Neighbors Attempt to Extinguish Fire

Residents of the Saddlebrook neighborhood near Braun and 1604 called the fire department Tuesday, 16 November after noticing smoke emanating from an attached garage on Preakness Pass.  Their attempts to put the fire out with a garden hose failed when they couldn't open the garage door.  The homeowner was away at the time of the fire, about 3:00 pm, according to an SAFD report.

Three engines, a ladder truck, and a medic made the scene with the first crew arriving in about six minutes.  Damage was sustained throughout the garage, a wall on the second story, and a portion of the attic.  A vehicle parked inside was also damaged. 

Firefighters were on the scene for about 90 minutes.  They determined the fire started among combustible materials stored on a shelf in the garage.  The value of property lost was not given.  There were no injuries.

It's been a busy month for Braun area SAFD stations.  Firefighters also responded to brush fires reported at Braun and Leslie on the 13th, another at 1604 and Braun the 19th, and a small fuel spill at the Valero, Bandera and Prue, on 12 November.

City Crew Accidentally Knocks Out Power

A City of San Antonio crew working in the vicinity of Single Spur and Braun accidentally cut service to an overhead power line this morning at around 11:00, according to a CPS representative.

Power to Finesilver Ranch was intermittent, and mostly out, for about an hour.  According to the CPS Energy Outage Map, at one point over four thousand customers were without power.  Service appeared to be mostly restored by 2:00 Monday afternoon, though eight customers were still without power at 4:00.

Escaped Cougar Locks-Down Area Schools

A cougar escaped from her enclosure at the Wild Animal Orphanage near New Guilbeau and 1604 Friday morning. The scare resulted in an hours-long "soft" lock down of area schools while police swept several acres surrounding the Leslie Rd facility. Students of at least one Northside school, Galm ES, spent recess inside.

The sedated cougar was returned to
Wild Animal Orphanage (KSAT.com)

The first call for help came when the former manager of the sanctuary saw the cougar attacking her dog at her nearby home.

She kicked the big cat away before it could inflict a fatal injury, but the dog remains under the care of a vet.

By 3:30 the cougar was located near Leslie and 1604 and darted with a tranquilizer. Both dog and cat are recovering nicely.

Local media provided broad coverage:  NEWS4, KENS5, KSAT12, FOX29, and Express News.