Houston Firefighters Rescue Woman from Blaze

Nov. 9, 2007
The woman and another resident suffered minor injuries and were transported to a nearby hospital for treatment.

HOUSTON --

A woman was rescued from her third-floor unit of a burning condominium building late Thursday, KPRC Local 2 reported.

The two-alarm blaze broke out on Forum Park Drive near Sugar Branch Drive shortly after 11 p.m.

Houston firefighters had to cut through burglar bars on Melanie Bingham's balcony to get to her. She walked down a ladder on a fire truck.

Bingham said she saw the smoke rising and thought the end was near.

"Everyone downstairs was yelling at me, 'They're coming, they're coming! Hold on!,'" she said. "I just thought that was it. I was trapped. I was the only one on the third floor trapped."

Bingham and another resident suffered minor injuries and were transported to a nearby hospital for treatment. A firefighter was taken to a hospital with a back injury.

Deshannon Mason packed her car with what she could salvage.

"Everything I had is gone," she said. "Try to rebuild, that's all I can do."

Investigators said they believe the fire started on the first floor.

Some of the units on the first floor sustained fire damage while the units on the second and third floors sustained smoke and water damage.

American Red Cross workers went to the complex to help the displaced residents.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Voice Your Opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of Firehouse, create an account today!