The fire broke out on Cullen near Polk in southeast Houston around 1:25 this morning. Firefighters arrived and found the duplex on fire with the roof collapsing. A resident of the duplex says he woke up to heavy smoke and heavy flames when he looked out his window this morning. He then called 911 for help.
Neighbors initially thought the homeowner was inside at the time, but when firefighters arrived they determined that person was not inside when the fire started.
"They said the house next store was on fire so I ran out of the house. They made everybody get out of the house and they almost caught my apartment on fire," said neighbor Michael Richerson. "If they wouldn't have beat on the door, I'd have burned up."
Firefighters say the fire appears to have started on the front porch and are calling it very suspicious.
Arson investigators are looking into the cause.
