Previous Story
Fire renders workers homeless
|
Posted on Apr 23 2002
A blaze that hit a San Antonio structure Saturday morning left some 105 garment workers homeless, police said.
There were no reported injuries though tenants of the two-storey building claimed losing virtually their entire personal belongings to the fire, Public Safety spokesperson Lt. Pete C. Muña reported yesterday.
The affected structure, leased by Guo Cao Qian housed around 49 bedrooms, was being rented out to garment factory workers employed by the United International Corporation, Net Corporation, Marianas Fashion and Zhong Ming Garments, said Muña.
The displaced workers, who claimed to have lost their cash, savings, jewelry, clothing, passports and other important documents, were fortunately taken in by UIC president James Lin.
Muña said Lin provided shelter, food and clothing to individuals affected in the fire.
In an interview with police, Qian, 34, otherwise known as Steve Qian, said that a witness, Li Xi Feng, called him at about 4:15am to alert him about the ongoing fire at the barracks.
The witness informed Qian that the fire started in room number five, Muña said.
Police could not immediately determine the cause of the fire, pending results of the onsite investigation.
Qian, apparently devastated by the tragedy, told police that he leased the property from Charles Cepeda in July last year. He even had the building renovated and repainted, Muña quoted a police report, also noting that the property was not insured.
The owner added tenants preferred to stay at the building because it was a cheaper. Qian reportedly charged $110 to $160 per unit, which was complete with a kitchen and a rest room.
