Houston Chronicle
HOUSTON — It took the Houston Fire Department about two hours to extinguish a blaze that gutted at least 60 units at a northwest-side apartment complex and sent three firefighters to the hospital.
The blaze erupted shortly before 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Gentry Houston Apartments, 9001 Kempwood. Fire crews were at the scene within minutes.
“They had heavy flames right from the get-go,” said HFD Capt. Ruy Lozano.
The high winds whipped the flames, sending them racing through the tightly-packed apartment complex.
“That’s what’s causing this thing to spread. We’re up to four (building) units compromised,” Lozano said as firefighters attacked the flames. “They’re setting up a defensive line.”
HFD commanders at the scene triggered four alarms, bringing about 120 firefighters to join in the battle.
Because of the heat the plan was for individual firefighters to spend no more than 20 minutes in action before being rotated out for a break.
“We have to give them time to recover,” Lozano said.
There were no reports of any apartment residents being injured, but three Houston firefighters were taken to be checked out at the hospital — two of them for heat-related illnesses while a third had a twisted ankle.
Jacque Marquez, 16, was in her apartment when she heard someone banging on the front door. It was her younger brother, who had been outside playing.
“Everything was black. I couldn’t see,” she said.
With the flames getting closer, Marquez didn’t have time to grab any belongings. She fled wearing only a shirt and shorts.
“This is all I have,” she said.
Her family will be staying with a relative. While their belongings were lost to the fire, everyone is safe, Marquez said.
“I feel sad and lucky at the same time,” she said.
Houston Fire Department officials said they would be working with the Red Cross to find temporary lodging for the displaced residents.
HFD arson officers will investigate the cause of the apartment fire.
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