Fire damages 8 apartments in southwest Houston

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Firefighters say a Tuesday night fire damaged at least four units at an apartment complex in southwest Houston.

The fire started just before 7:40pm in the 8400 block of Wilcrest.

According to the Houston Fire Department, firefighters arrived at the complex and found flames coming out of two units. That fire grew to two more apartments, prompting firefighters to ask for more help. The fire was declared under control at 8:25pm.

No one was injured in the fire, but eight units sustained heavy fire, water and smoke damage. Ten residents were displaced as a result of the fire.

People who live there described a chaotic scene as the fire spread. They tell Eyewitness News they saw people in the units trying to get as much as they could carry out as the flames flared around them and embers fell onto their heads.

One victim, Phyllis Nealy, tells Eyewitness News she lived in her unit for 13 years and her granddaughter lives with her. Nealy says she recently dropped her renter's insurance due to financial problems and now she has to start over.

"I had a lot of stuff, but I'm thankful because what God did once he can do again," she said.

Arson detectives are investigating the cause of the fire.