HOUSTON -- Fierce flames consumed part of a west Houston car dealership on Monday, KPRC Local 2 reported.

The two-alarm fire at West Point Buick Lincoln Mercury on the Katy Freeway near Kirkwood Road broke out at about 3 p.m.

Bright orange flames shot out of the building and thick black plumes of smoke billowed out of the dealership's parts warehouse.

Two people inside the warehouse spotted the fire, ran out and alerted others to the fire.

"The front part of it is a showroom-type structure," Houston Fire Department Assistant Chief Kevin Alexander said. "It is my understanding that they also store parts in that area. It is a pre-owned showroom floor on the front side and a parts area on the back side."

Shortly after arriving, the Houston Fire Department declared it a defensive fire, meaning it was too dangerous for crews to go inside and they fought it from the outside.

A portion of the parts warehouse, which was 7,000- to 8,000-square-feet collapsed, fire officials said.

Dealership officials said engines in the warehouse were wrapped in plastic.

The dealership's general manager said no vehicles were lost or damaged in the fire.

No injuries have been reported.

Traffic along the Katy Freeway was slowed as drivers watched the fire burn.

The cause of the fire has not been determined.

Check Traffic Now:

• Houston TranStar Real-Time Traffic Map


• Traffic Pulse Real-Time Traffic Map


• Traffic Section


• Houston Transtar


• Texas Dept. of Transportation Web site or call 800-452-9292


• Harris County Office of Emergency Management Web site

Check Construction Information:

Map: Freeway Construction Projects
TxDOT Freeway Construction Schedule