1 firefighter treated for heat exhaustion, 8 units destroyed in apartment fire in SE Houston: HFD

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- Officials say eight apartment units were destroyed at the Del Mar apartment complex on Tuesday after a fire roared through the building.

The Del Mar Apartments are near the Gulf Freeway and Edgebrook Drive.

"Girl, it was popping and stuff. It was very hot. You know how it's hot right now? It was very hot. And there was smoke everywhere, people were running around, it was very crazy. Girl, you had to be out here to see it," resident Kariyah Butler said.

Residents paint a scene of chaos. The Houston Fire Department said they were called out around 11 a.m. on Tuesday, but before engines arrived, residents and visitors said they jumped into action, going door to door, to help people evacuate.

"We saw smoke and then we saw fire and then we started going and banging on every door we could, trying to alert residents, 'Hey, get out. Leave your stuff," Vance Hendricks said.

"It started from this side, the bottom apartment, and the lady was asking me to help her get her animals up out of there. From there, the office man had to restrain her cause she was trying to go in there to the fire to get her animals," Natalie James said.

The Houston Fire Department said it took them about an hour to knock the fire down. In the end, all residents made it out safe and there have been no reports of lost or missing animals.

The fire department said around 100 firefighters were on scene to make sure crews could trade out and take breaks in the hot conditions. One firefighter was treated for heat exhaustion, but ABC13 was told he will be OK.

"It's already a hot day. Our firefighters, our crews, they put on the hot turnout gear, carry the hoses, carry the tools, carry the air packs. You're putting in work before you even get to the fire, and then you get to the fire and you exhaust yourself putting out the fire," HFD Captain Sedrick Robinett said.

Eight apartments were destroyed, and the department said they were able to keep the fire from spreading to other buildings.

"It's so scary, it's devastating. I feel for the people who live in this apartment who are affected. I know they have lost a lot," resident Josephine Muyo said.

Eyewitness News did see the Red Cross at the complex in the afternoon, speaking with residents. The HFD arson team will investigate the cause of the fire.

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