Red Cross helps men who lost home early Sunday to fire

By Mike Baird in The Corpus Christi Caller-Times
Authorities say about 18 firefighters battled a Sunday blaze in the 900 block of Stirman Street, which ignited about 2 a.m., catching on fire a vehicle in a carport. The homeowner operated a landscape business, and lawn maintenance equipment, including about 35 gallons of gasoline, fueled the fire, said Batallion Chief Michael Schmidt. Firefighters used two deck guns, which are like water canons mounted on fire engines, to control the blaze.

The fire threatened adjacent homes, Schmidt said. The homeowner initially tried to control the fire with buckets of water, but the structure quickly burned beyond his control, Schmidt said. Damage is estimated at about $150,000. The exact cause remains undetermined.