Flames rip through old strip center

HOUSTON The blaze started around 3am at the facility near Mangum at Vista Village. Firefighters responding to the scene found heavy smoke and flames as the fire went to three alarms. They originally went in to fight the fire, but some of the walls were in danger of collapsing, so they went into defensive mode.

Firefighters say there was so much smoke because there was plenty of fuel for the fire inside.

"This is a furniture storage business facility and the inside of this warehouse is loaded with furniture material," said Houston Fire Department Assistant Chief Omero Longoria.

We're told this was the site of the original Randall's grocery store many years ago. Arson will be out to investigate. The good news in all of this is that no one was hurt.

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