San Antonio Family Escapes House Fire, Son Found Safe & Husband Rescues Dogs

A family of eight, including six children and two dogs, evacuated their home as flames engulfed the structure.

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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A San Antonio family of eight, including six children and two dogs, escaped a house fire on Saturday morning. The fire started while the father was working on his car, quickly spreading to the home. The family fled with only the clothes they were wearing, and the mother realized her 5-year-old son was missing. The family re-entered the burning home and found him, then the father bravely ran back in to rescue the two family dogs before collapsing from smoke inhalation. Neighbors pulled him to safety, and he was later released from the hospital. While the family is grateful everyone survived, they lost nearly all of their possessions and have started a GoFundMe to aid in rebuilding their lives.

Why it matters

House fires can be devastating events that leave families displaced and in need of significant support to recover. This story highlights the courage and quick thinking of the San Antonio family in escaping the blaze, as well as the husband's selfless actions in rescuing the family pets, despite the personal risk. It also underscores the importance of community support for those who have lost everything in a disaster.

The details

The fire broke out at the family's home on Gibbs Street near Walters Street in San Antonio. Video captured by a neighbor showed flames engulfing the structure. During the evacuation, the mother, Melony Salinas, realized her 5-year-old son was missing, so the family re-entered the burning home and found him in one of the back rooms. Moments later, they discovered their two dogs were still inside. Salinas' husband then bravely ran back into the house and rescued the dogs, emerging with one in each arm before collapsing due to smoke inhalation. Neighbors pulled him to safety, and he was later released from the hospital.

  • The fire broke out on Saturday morning.
  • The family evacuated the home with only the clothes they were wearing.

The players

Melony Salinas

The mother of the family who escaped the house fire.

Salinas' husband

The father who rescued the family's two dogs from the burning home.

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What they’re saying

“I feel like it traumatized my kids.”

— Melony Salinas, Mother (newsy-today.com)

“Clothes for the kids, furniture whenever we acquire there, wherever we're going — basically everything. It's like starting all over again.”

— Melony Salinas, Mother (newsy-today.com)

What’s next

The family has established a GoFundMe page to solicit support as they begin to rebuild their lives.

The takeaway

This tragic house fire in San Antonio serves as a sobering reminder of the devastating impact such events can have on families, both materially and emotionally. However, the courage and selflessness displayed by the parents in ensuring the safety of their children and pets, as well as the outpouring of community support, offer hope that this family can overcome this challenge and rebuild their lives with the aid of their local community.