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Residents Return To Burned-Out Complex

POSTED: Sunday, July 29, 2007
UPDATED: 12:32 am CDT July 29, 2007

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.

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