Arson investigators examine small fire outside San Antonio’s planned ICE detention and processing facility

Fire reported Tuesday night outside East Side warehouse recently purchased by ICE

San Antonio Fire Department arson investigators are examining a small fire that was extinguished outside a large industrial building on the city’s East Side that federal immigration authorities have recently purchased for a planned detention and processing facility.

The fire was reported around 10 p.m. Tuesday at 542 S.E. Loop 410. Fire crews initially responded to what was described as a potential trash fire, but arrived to find flames burning outside the commercial structure. The fire was quickly put out, and no injuries were reported. Officials said damage to the building was minor.

The cause of the fire remained under investigation Wednesday.

Property is a vacant warehouse slated for conversion

The site is the Oakmont 410 industrial facility, a vacant warehouse measuring about 639,595 square feet. Federal immigration authorities confirmed the purchase as part of a broader effort to expand detention capacity nationwide. The building was acquired for $66.1 million.

An internal federal document previously reported by a Texas newspaper described the building as potentially convertible into a 1,500-bed migrant processing center. Under that concept, migrants would be processed at the site before being transferred to other detention facilities and ultimately deported.

Local opposition has intensified as project moves forward

The fire occurred amid growing public attention and organized opposition to the proposed facility. On Tuesday, Bexar County commissioners approved a resolution formally opposing the project after roughly two dozen residents spoke against it during public comment.

County officials said their ability to stop the project is limited because the facility would be operated by a federal agency. The vote underscored an emerging local fault line: heightened community concern over federal immigration enforcement and detention, alongside a recognition that local governments have constrained authority over federal property decisions.

“Commissioners said there is little local government can do to stop it because ICE is a federal agency.”

What investigators typically look for in early stages

Arson investigations commonly begin by establishing where a fire started and what first fuel sources were involved, while accounting for how wind, nearby debris, and building materials could have affected fire behavior. In cases involving outdoor fires near commercial structures, investigators also typically assess potential ignition sources and whether the fire was accidental or deliberately set.

• Location and condition of burn patterns outside the structure

• Whether discarded materials or debris acted as fuel

• Any signs of forced entry, vandalism, or tampering nearby

• Available video, witness accounts, and response timelines

As of Wednesday afternoon, officials had not announced any arrests, identified a suspect, or released findings on how the fire started.