A fire tore through an apartment complex in the West Chase area of southwest Houston overnight, displacing about a dozen families. The blaze began around 11 p.m. on the third floor of the building, and by morning the extent of the damage had become clear as the sun came up over the scene.
The top-floor unit where the fire started was left heavily damaged, with much of its roof missing. Nearby apartments were also affected, dealing with smoke and water damage that spread well beyond the unit where the flames first broke out.
When the Houston Fire Department arrived, crews ran into several obstacles that slowed their response. The apartment complex was gated, which delayed access, and firefighters said the nearest hydrants were far away, complicating their efforts to get water onto the flames.
Once crews were able to get close and set up, they managed to attack the fire quickly. Officials said no residents were injured in the blaze, though several people were left shaken by how fast it unfolded in the middle of the night.
A few firefighters were hurt while battling the fire. A safety officer was injured and is now in stable condition, while three other firefighters were being evaluated for injuries following the response, according to fire officials.
One resident described the frightening moments as she fled her apartment. She said she ran out to find a large fire already engulfing part of the complex, and that hours later she was still too shaken to sleep, calling the ordeal a shock.
In all, the fire is believed to have affected roughly a dozen families, between those directly burned out and neighbors left with smoke and water damage. The cause remains unknown, and the arson unit is investigating what sparked the blaze.