Nov. 14--The nephew of a woman who died in a house fire in Houston's east end said he and others tried to save her, but flames kept them back.

The 32-year-old woman identified by relatives as Guadalupe Galvan died as wind-whipped flames ripped through the house in the 5300 block of Clay near Lansing.

"We tried to get her out, me and my grandfather and my cousin, but it was too late," said Angel Galvan, the woman's nephew. The 21-year-old said he lives at the house with his grandparents and his aunt.

Firefighters responding to the fire, reported about 11:40 p.m. Tuesday, found heavy flames in the front of the house. High winds quickly whipped the blaze, driving the flames through the home and into the attic. Officials reported that Galvan was unable to get out and that relatives could not help her because the fire was too intense.

Angel Galvan said the fire started in his room, but the cause was unclear late Wednesday.

"I tried to get water to try to put (out) the fire," he said. "But it wouldn't work, so I called 911 and told them to rush over here."

He said he was awake when the fire started and rushed to his grandparents' room and woke them up, but the fast-spreading flames prevented him from getting to his aunt's room in the back of the house.

The family called other relatives, who live nearby, to come to the home, the nephew said.

The woman's body was discovered in the back bedroom. No other injuries were reported.

Official said the fire heavily damaged the house.

Investigators said the blaze was accidental but they declined to release details about what sparked the fire.

Copyright 2013 - Houston Chronicle