Officials say the fatalities were the homeowners at Locke Lane and Timber Lane in River Oaks. One of the deceased is Dr. R. Wayne Hurt of St. Joseph's Hospital. The other person believed to be dead is Dr. Hurt's wife, Maryann Hurt.
According to officials, the Houston Fire Department responded to a house fire report of trapped persons around 6am Saturday morning. The Hurt's son was outside the home when firefighters pulled up and there was heavy smoke coming from the house. The son said that his mother and father were still inside.
Firefighters made a fast attack, but the house was very large and had many items stacked in hallways and rooms, so they had difficulty fighting the fire. The blaze spread quickly and escalated to a three-alarm fire with heavy flames throughout. While fighting the fire on the first floor, they found a female dead in the kitchen.
Over 100 firefighters responded to the fire. They put out the blaze around 7:15am. The house was burned throughout the two floors. Arson investigators have been sent to the house.
HFD said that one firefighter was injured with burns to his hands. He was transported to Memorial-Hermann Hospital where he was treated and released.
Phillip D. Robinson, CEO St. Joseph Medical Center, said in a statement, "The physicians and medical staff at St. Joseph Medical Center are deeply saddened by the death of Dr. Wayne Hurt, a neurologist on staff for nearly 30 years, and his wife MaryAnn. Dr. Hurt's leadership and teaching skills have helped pave the way for many innovations in the fields of neurology and pain management. Our condolences go out to the many family, friends and peers who are coping with this loss of this wonderful couple."
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