3-alarm fire breaks out at vacant apartment building in SE Houston

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Firefighters worked quickly to get a three-alarm fire in control at a vacant apartment building in southeast Houston.

The fire broke out around 5:15pm at 4101 Gulf Freeway at Cullen. As the fire intensified more trucks were called for backup.

About 125 firefighters helped fight the flames that consumed the building. The building suffered significant fire and smoke damage.

"Firefighters did a great job. They kept it contained it to that one building, with the volume of fire they had, it was amazing that it kept to that one structure," said Deputy Chief Blake White with the Houston Fire Department.

For Houston firefighters, the blaze comes just days after losing one of their own to another massive fire. Daniel Groover, 46, died Wednesday. Groover entered a burning house but never made it back out.

"It's a tough time it takes a while for us. I don't say move on, we never actually move on and not. We always remember that firefighter but those initials, first few weeks, months, it's pretty tough," said White.

It's a risk and a sacrifice that doesn't go unnoticed.

"It's always a concern for these firefighters. They do so much for us," said nearby resident Jatin Patel.

Arson investigators will determine whether lightning played a role in the blaze.