SAN ANTONIO – An evacuation was issued Tuesday by the Bexar County Office of Emergency Management due to a brush fire on the Far South Side. The fire started at about 12:45 p.m. near Southton Road and IH-37.

The fire department tells us six homes were evacuated – five homes (two of them mobile homes) and one shed. The heavy winds made the fire difficult to extinguish.

The fire is now under control and the evacuation is expected to be lifted soon. Fire crews are still working on a few hot spots. They expect to be on scene throughout the night.

When we caught up with Briana Houghtling, who was able to get most of her pets out of the home – and leave the doors open so the rest of them could escape if the flames got close.

“They had just told me that it was spreading quick. They thought that the train tracks were going to stop it, but it didn’t – and that was basically it. They were just telling me that it was about 30 yards away and that was the last thing that they had told me. To try and get as much as I could out.”

Other neighbors tell us they tried coming home when they heard about the flames but have been unable to get to their house to get their pets and some of their belongings.

According to an official Bexar County Facebook post, the evacuation order is limited to approximately 30 homes located in the southeastern part of Bexar County south of Highway 181 to the west on Donop Road, South to Southton Road and east to Streich Road.

Deputies with the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office are assisting with blocking off areas due to the spreading fires. They say additional mandatory evacuation orders are in place for residents living along Duke Road in South Bexar County.

The City of San Antonio (COSA) has set up a temporary shelter for evacuees at the Mission Espada Fellowship Hall located at 10040 Espada Road.

The Atascosa County Sheriff’s Office says they have responded to multiple house fires in the area of Old Pleasanton Road and Big Leaf Road due to high winds. They urge residents to avoid the area if possible and watch for first responders if travel in the area is necessary.

Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller has issued a statement urging Texans to take immediate precautions as “wildfire and storm risks across the state reach critical levels.”

We don’t want a repeat of last year’s fires, where we saw entire ranches, homes, and livelihoods go up in smoke,” said Commissioner Miller in a statement on Tuesday. “And now, with severe storms threatening parts of the state, Texans need to be on high alert. Preparedness can mean the difference between safety and tragedy.

For more preparedness resources, visit Texas A&M Forest Service and Texas Division of Emergency Management.

This is a developing story. We will update you as new information becomes available.