Police 'flash-bang' ignites house fire during drug raidAn East Side house was almost destroyed by fire after police used a "flash-bang" device when executing a high-risk narcotics warrant Tuesday night.
San Antonio Police Sgt. Gabe Trevino said the department's ROP Unit along with SWAT was serving a narcotics warrant around 9:30 p.m. at a residence in the 100 block of Belmont when the fire started.
Police had been called to the house repeatedly in the past, Trevino said.
Before officers entered the home they used what is called by police as a "flash bang" device which is thrown into an area, makes a loud bang, and disorients people who may be nearby. The device has been used "hundreds of times" without incident, Trevino said.
However, the device landed on a mattress causing it to catch fire, Trevino said. The officers tried to extinguish the fire with two fire extinguishers and a fire hose as the San Antonio Fire Department reached the address.
Trevino said the fire department was able to quickly extinguish the fire.
Two men at the house were detained. It was not known if any traces of narcotics, which may or may not have been in the house, were left.
There was no information available on a cost estimate of the damage to the house but Trevino said it appeared to be a near total loss.