1 firefighter injured battling 2-alarm fire at southwest Houston apartments

HOUSTON – Houston firefighters were battling a 2-alarm fire at an apartment complex in southwest Houston Friday morning.

The fire broke out at the Greyfield Apartments in the 10100 block of Bissonnet at Highway 59 around 5:50 a.m.  A second alarm was pulled around 6:11 a.m. to bring in additional help.

Heavy black smoke and flames could be seen shooting through the roof of a two-story apartment building.

"I looked outside and saw some smoke and I said 'there's a fire!'" Maden Deagual, a resident, said.

Ladder trucks were used to tackle the flames from above and firefighters with hoses were hitting the fire from the ground.  Once the flames were brought under control, firefighters climbed onto the roof to help tap out the fire.

The fast-moving fire swept through one of the apartment buildings building, gutting the top floor units.

"Within two to three minutes the fire became very heavy because of the wind conditions," said "Derrick Hunter, Houston Fire Department.

As the fire intensified, confused residents tried to get out as fast as they could, but some were having a tough time.  Firefighters went door-to-door making sure residents were out of harm's way.

"We had residents, some of them out, then we had firefighters go in apartments to get the residents out," Hunter said.

Matthew Duran said he was asleep when he heard strange clicking noises coming from the attic.

"I woke up at 5:43 and I turned on my lights and my breaker tripped, I turned my breaker back on and there was no power," Duran said.  "A couple minutes later there was black smoke coming out of the A/C."

Duran was only able to grab a few pictures and his television before bolting out of his unit.
Other residents were only able to grab their cell phones and keys as they fled, many of them still dressed in the bed clothes.

All residents made it out safely.

One firefighter was taken to the hospital to be treated for a knee injury.