Fire demolishes northeast Houston hair salon

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Thick black smoke could be seen for miles Monday afternoon as Jessie Frazier pulled up to his neighboring business where a dozen customers evacuated.

"They were just starting to get the flames down. Still pretty high. The vinyl on the next door was melting," said Frazier.

Firefighters pulled two alarms as the hair salon burned in the 22600 block of Loop 494. Employees hugged at the scene. It was closed today but the dry wood went quickly, melting siding of a design store next door. Flying embers burned grass across the street.

HFD District Chief Charles Medina said, "We went defensive because I knew the building was already collapsing. Then our next priority was going to be to protect the exposures."

On the other side of the fire sits Tony Raffa's popular Kingwood restaurant. Fire crews worked to cool the building and save Amedeo's, which is celebrating its 30th year of business.

Owner Tony Raffa said, "I've been in with firefighters and it looks like minimal water in through the doors...minimal smoke. We're hoping we'll be in good shape to open as soon as possible."

Arson investigators are on scene but no word yet on a cause.