A three-alarm fire broke out at a southwest Houston condo complex Tuesday afternoon, KPRC Local 2 reported.
The blaze started at about 4:15 p.m. at the Windfield II Condominium Homes, located at 10110 Forum W. Drive.
The second alarm was pulled shortly after firefighters arrived as a precaution because temperatures topped the 90s.
"It's a tremendously hot day today, so we have to rotate personnel. They're in encapsulated suits. There's a tremendous amount of body heat with the added temperature of going inside and trying to control the area of fire," Houston Fire Department Executive Chief Rick Flanagan said.
The flames were initially contained to one area, but then jumped to other units about 45 minutes later. The third alarm was pulled when the fire spread. Two hours later, the blaze was still out of control.
"I heard a lot of crackling, smoke, people running from one building to the next, and then I looked outside and it was more smoke than it was before, so we just all left the building," resident Comeshia Young said.
A shelter-in-place order was called for residents who lived downwind from the complex because of the density of the smoke. Fire officials said carbon particles could cause problems for those with respiratory issues.
"There's lots and lots of really bad, dirty smoke -- a lot of carbon particles in it," HFD Assistant Fire Chief Jack Williams said. "Shelter-in-place means turn your (air conditioner) off, put your windows up to keep the smoke out of your house. Try to stay out of the smoke."
One fireman was transported to a hospital for hypertension.
No other injuries were reported.
Fire officials believe up to 30 units were damaged or destroyed in the blaze.
The cause of the fire is not yet known.
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