TAFT, Texas — A tragedy played out in Taft, Texas, early Monday morning after a fire tore through a neighborhood on East Elm Street near Petty Elementary School. Four homes were destroyed, but fortunately no one was hurt.
Late Monday afternoon, San Patricio County Sheriff Oscar Rivera reported that the fire had been intentionally set.
Neighbors spoke with 3News at the scene Monday morning.
"I got a phone call at 3:30 a.m. on the way to work saying my mom's house is on fire, so I did what I'm supposed to do and race across Texas to see what I can do to help out," Marc Moreno said.
Moreno said a lot of the homes in that neighborhood, including his mother's, are over 70 years old and have a lot of family history.
"It's really sad to see it like this, it is," Moreno said.
Neighbors Antonio and Antonia Riojas have been living in their home since 1954. They said they are just happy to be alive after neighbors alerted them of the fire.
"They said I can't go into my house," Riojas said. "I've got so many memories in there."
Sheriff Rivera said the U.S. Marshals Office and Taft police are assisting in the search for them. He added that the home where the fire started was the target of a drive-by shooting last week.
3News will keep you updated as more information becomes available.
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