Residents Return To Burned-Out Complex
POSTED: Sunday, July 29, 2007
UPDATED: 12:32 am CDT July 29,
2007
HOUSTON -- An east Harris County apartment complex that used to be home to hundreds of people was a pile of rubble on Saturday, leaving families to try to figure out where to go next, KPRC Local 2 reported.
Video: Families Search For Homes After Apartment Inferno
Video: 92 Apartments Detroyed In 5-Alarm Fire
Video: Fire Destroys Apartments For 300 Residents
A five-alarm fire broke out at about 3 p.m. Friday at the South Grand Apartments, located in the 15400 block of Interstate 10 near Dell Dale.Nearly 100 units were destroyed in the blaze that burned for hours.Residents returned to the complex on Saturday to sift through the ashes and rubble.Martha Herrada said the lost keepsakes and photographs hurt the most."All my grandkids -- I cannot find the pictures. They burned up," she said.As darkness set over the destruction, the residents were faced with a new concern -- the security of what little they have left."We've run into some people that didn't even belong here and they're inspecting our losses, and we're trying to find our memories and they're trying to take off with our stuff," resident Judith Herrada said."I'm moving out because I (don't have) no water, no electricity and before too long, there's going to be some people trying to steal everything that's still here," resident Michael Keahey said.The complex is in a high-crime area, residents said.Some residents feel the authorities did not move with urgency because of the apartment's reputation.But fire officials said strong wind and an inadequate water supply made it a difficult battle.Fire officials ruled that an electrical problem caused the blaze.Members of the community have donated food and clothing.St. Andrew Catholic Church will hold a food drive for fire victims on Sunday. Donations can be dropped off at the church on 827 Sheldon Road in Channelview between 2 and 5 p.m. and all day on Monday.
Copyright 2007 by Click2Houston.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Video: Families Search For Homes After Apartment InfernoVideo: 92 Apartments Detroyed In 5-Alarm FireVideo: Fire Destroys Apartments For 300 Residents A five-alarm fire broke out at about 3 p.m. Friday at the South Grand Apartments, located in the 15400 block of Interstate 10 near Dell Dale.Nearly 100 units were destroyed in the blaze that burned for hours.Residents returned to the complex on Saturday to sift through the ashes and rubble.Martha Herrada said the lost keepsakes and photographs hurt the most."All my grandkids -- I cannot find the pictures. They burned up," she said.As darkness set over the destruction, the residents were faced with a new concern -- the security of what little they have left."We've run into some people that didn't even belong here and they're inspecting our losses, and we're trying to find our memories and they're trying to take off with our stuff," resident Judith Herrada said."I'm moving out because I (don't have) no water, no electricity and before too long, there's going to be some people trying to steal everything that's still here," resident Michael Keahey said.The complex is in a high-crime area, residents said.Some residents feel the authorities did not move with urgency because of the apartment's reputation.But fire officials said strong wind and an inadequate water supply made it a difficult battle.Fire officials ruled that an electrical problem caused the blaze.Members of the community have donated food and clothing.St. Andrew Catholic Church will hold a food drive for fire victims on Sunday. Donations can be dropped off at the church on 827 Sheldon Road in Channelview between 2 and 5 p.m. and all day on Monday.
Previous Stories:
- July 28, 2007: 5-Alarm Fire Destroys Apartment Complex
Copyright 2007 by Click2Houston.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Hurricane Ida, the first Atlantic hurricane to target the United States this year, plodded Sunday toward the Gulf Coast with 105 mph winds, bringing the threat of flooding and storm surges.
It started with what would have been just a misdemeanor crime, but the Houston Police Department says what happened next led to a suspect being shot and killed by a police officer.
The search for a missing cattle herder ends with the discovery of his body, KPRC Local 2 reports.
Harris County homicide investigators said they have made two arrests after an 18-year-old woman was found dead Friday morning.
The family of the alleged Fort Hood shooter held his mother's funeral at the same Virginia mosque that two Sept. 11 hijackers attended in 2001, at a time when a radical imam preached there.
Jonathan Novack
Nov. 5, 2009: A prominent home builder and his wife are charged with drug possession and intent to distribute. Carl Willis reports.
May 8, 2008: A giant sinkhole in Liberty County is swallowing everything in its path, KPRC Local 2 reports.
Nov. 6, 2009: The Army reveals that the soldier who opened fire on base fired more than 100 rounds, KPRC Local 2 reports.
The Wings Over Houston Airshow was held at Ellington Field on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1, 2009. More than 80,000 people attended. Check out some of the viewers who visited the KPRC booth.
A soldier opened fire at a U.S. Army base in Fort Hood, Texas, on Thursday, unleashing a stream of gunfire that left 13 people dead and 31 wounded.
Email Alerts
RSS News Feeds
Mobile
Live Streams
Slideshows
Video
Search
