Dozen Saladoans lose their homes in overnight blaze

Relief effort begun for Salado students

A Salado man died in a house fire overnight at Irene Lane that burned down a two-story house with multiple additions to it and a camper trailer. Another camper trailer ignited but was not lost in the fire.

The cause of the fire is still unknown, but Salado Volunteer Fire Department (SVFD) Chief Shane Berrier said that it may have started with space heaters in the bottom story of the home.

“The house was fully involved when we arrived,” Chief Berrier said, adding that the second story had already collapsed into the first when Salado firefighters responded to the 11:25 p.m. call.

Alex Torres, a 2002 graduate of Salado High School, was killed in the fire.

Berrier said that over a dozen people lost their homes as a result of the fire. 

According to Superintendent Michael Novotny, two of the families to lose their homes have students in Salado schools.

One family, Dr. Novotny stated, has two high school students and an elementary student.  The other family has a high school student.

In an email sent out to parents and community members, Dr. Novotny asked for donations of clothes, gift cards, cash, and checks to the families.

All four of the students are male and their clothing sizes are the following:

  High School student: 36 pants, large shirts.

High School student: 32/34 pants, medium shirts.

High School student: 24 pants, medium shirts.

Elementary student – Boys XL shirts and pants (he prefer sweats)

Communities in Schools director Jessica Halfmann is coordinating the relief effort for the local students.

Clothes, gift cards, cash and checks can be dropped off at Salado Intermediate School.

If you are interested in donating, you can call Halfmann at 947-6949 or email her at jessica.halfmann@saladoisd.org.

Firefighters from SVFD and Stillhouse VFD were engaged in combatting the fire until 6:30 a.m. today.

Chief Berrier and others returned to the scene this morning to douse smoldering embers to prevent them from reigniting with the winds this morning.