Jan. 06--A fast moving apartment fire in southwest Houston on Sunday damaged 12 units and displaced the residents.
At 2:10 p.m., a woman called Houston Fire Department after noticing smoke coming from her Christmas tree in the Legacy at Westchase Apartments on Westpark.
Seven minutes later, extra assistance was radioed in and soon about 70 firefighters battled the blaze.
"Wind was definitely a factor," HFD spokesman Ruy Lozano said.
At 2:53 p.m., the fire was under control and residents, which area television stations reported did not have even enough time to put on shoes, stood nearby, surveying the six charred second-story apartments and six first-ground floor units emptied because of heavy water damage. The American Red Cross will assist the displaced families.
"She admitted she ran the lights 24 hours a day. That's where the fire first initiated," Lozano said. "If you're Christmas tree is getting dry, it's time to take it out and get it recycled."
Although it does not appear to be a factor in Sunday's fire, he encouraged people to be careful during the cold snap expected to drive Houston's nightime temperatures down into the 20s through Tuesday. Lozano noted HFD responds to a higher number of calls during cold weather, often when space heaters near flammable materials start fires or children playing near them are burned.
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