Collin Yeaman, left, and Larry Harris work to douse hot spots at a duplex fire in the 7700 block of Staci Court in North Richland Hills. Damage was estimated at $140,000.
Michael Chitty, left, and Stephen Humben watch firefighters battle a blaze at their duplex Monday. "Everything we have is gone," Chitty said.
Michael Chitty smelled smoke and ran into his living room as he was preparing for work Monday morning. He found his computer ablaze.
Chitty, 28, scrambled to salvage his extensive record collection, including albums that belonged to his grandfather. He filled a milk crate with albums and ran outside. But when he turned back for more, he was forced to give up. All he could see was black smoke.
The crate and records melted on the front lawn as 35 firefighters from Bedford, Hurst and North Richland Hills responded to the 10:15 a.m. blaze.
"Everything we have is gone," Chitty said. "I just can't believe it."
Half the unit in the 7700 block of Staci Court was destroyed. But firefighters prevented the flames from spreading to the other half, which was damaged only by smoke, said Sean Hughes, North Richland Hills Fire Department spokesman.
Chitty and his roommate, Stephen Humben, 25, said that all their electronics were off, but officials say they believe that the fire was related to the electrical equipment, fire investigator James McClanahan said. No one was hurt, but the damage to the duplex was estimated at $140,000, McClanahan said. None of the tenants had renter's insurance.
Chitty and Humben watched alongside their three duplex neighbors as firefighters extinguished the blaze on the roof. "All I want now are my keys and wallet," Chitty said.
The three residents of the other half of the duplex anxiously waited as firefighters carried out their three dogs and two cats.
But Humben was not so lucky.
A firefighter walked over, took off his helmet and told Humben that his two cats, Tiesto and Ashes, had died in the blaze. Humben lowered his sunglasses to cover his tear-filled eyes as Chitty consoled him.
Distributed by the Associated Press
