Two-alarm apartment fire in Cypress injures two residents

At 10:55 Sunday night, the lives of families who lived inside building 11 of a northwest Harris County apartment complex abruptly changed.

Fire raced through the building, damaging or destroying ten units.

Inside one of them was Marilyn Schmaler, who awoke to the smell of smoke. She was already getting in her wheelchair when her smoke detector sounded. "That's when I got out in a hurry," she said.

The fire was fast-moving. Wind conditions last night are blamed for the speed in which the fire spread.

Two residents, according to Cy-Fair firefighters were hospitalized for minor injuries, including smoke inhalation and minor burns.

Then there's the loss of property and possessions. Schmaler for example, escaped only with the nightgown and robe she wore while fleeing to safety.

"Everything," she said, "I lost everything."

The Fire Marshal's Office is investigating the cause of the fire, which for now, is unknown.