Owner loses millions after massive fire destroys south Harris County lumber yard

HOUSTONA massive fire destroyed a lumber storage house Tuesday in south Harris County.

The fire broke out around 11:45 p.m. at the M & M Lumber Co. in the 500 block of Riley Road.

When Pearland fire crews arrived, the building was totally engulfed. Because of a lack of fire hydrants and the intensity of the flames, extra units from League City, Stafford, Rosharon and Manvel were called in. Firefighters were forced to drive in and out of the area as they pumped and moved water to the scene.

Firefighters from six different fire departments struggled for more than 10 hours to get the inferno under control.

"We got a call from a friend of ours at church this morning," owner Randy Blanchard said. "They saw it on the news. My guys tried to call at midnight but my phone was in the office."

One employee, the caretaker, was on the grounds when the fire started. No one was hurt.

"There was a lot of wood; there was always a chance of a fire," Blanchard said. "We had fire extinguishers, but it happened at midnight and I don't know what happened."

Blanchard said the 20,000-square-foot warehouse had an expensive inventory of antique and reclaimed wood.

"A couple million dollars worth of inventory is gone, probably," Blanchard said.

Fire marshals are investigating the cause of the fire.

"I really have no idea what happened. My guess would be something happened electrically," Blanchard said.