A firefighter was hospitalized, and more than a dozen families were displaced after an intense fire ripped through more than 30 Galleria area apartment homes Friday afternoon.
The fire – which eventually reached four alarms – sparked around 12:30 p.m. at the Greenridge Place apartment in the 3000 of Greenridge, just north of Westheimer. Houston firefighters rolled into the complex within minutes of residents' several 9-1-1 calls and started attacking the flames, Houston Fire Department Assistant Chief Michael Mire said.
Within minutes, officials pulled a second alarm, then a third and fourth as southerly winds fueled the blaze.
"The size and layout of the building is quite a challenge," Mire told Chron.com sometime between the third and fourth alarm. "Given the other conditions the firefighters are facing, it's a matter of personnel and resources."
The fire appeared to have started inside a first-floor apartment on the north side of the building, eventually making its way through the second and third stories. Flames were shooting from the roof and spreading through the shared attic space when firefighters arrived.
While fighting the fire, at least one firefighter suffered severe heat exhaustion, and was rushed to an area hospital by ambulance. Two other firefighters and a resident of the complex were treated on scene for smoke inhalation, officials said on scene.
At least 18 apartment homes were destroyed in the blaze, HFD spokesperson Sheldra Brigham said.
"Everything, she's lost everything," Talisha Johnson said of her daughter's apartment and possessions. "Everything's gone in a matter of seconds."
She said her daughter heard a pop and then saw thick, black smoke right outside her window.
That was around the same time that Corniesha Johnson heard a commotion and saw the building was on fire.
"Someone actually screamed out 'fire' and said a mattress was on fire on the first floor," she said. "I went out and screamed out, 'fire, fire' to everyone, because people were sleeping. Even a baby. By that time, the whole apartment was actually on fire. When the firefighters got here, they were on the third floor. I yelled out and screamed out to go to the first floor."
Johnson, whose apartment was also damaged, was overcome with emotion while being interviewed by reporters and couldn't speak for much longer. Many of the residents inside the complex are unemployed, making a recovery from a fire such as this that more difficult, Johnson said.
"A lot of these people ... might need help and assistance," she said. "If you can reach out to them, please do."
Arson investigators with the Houston Fire Department are working to determine what started the blaze. The American Red Cross was called out to assist those residents who were displaced.in.
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