"Our investigation determined the fire was accidental in nature and was caused by a malfunctioning electrical appliance," said Lieutenant Investigator Gustavo Lopez with the Harris County Fire Marshal's Office.
Three people inside the home died, including one of the residents, a grandmother said to be in her 60s, her elderly friend and another woman in her 20s.
"It appears two of the victims were at the door," said Lopez. "They were on the verge of getting out. Most likely, they were overcome by the smoke."
Two of the victims were visiting from Mexico.
The names of the victims have not been officially released. A man who lived at the home wasn't there at the time of