Lack of hydrants made massive apartment fire hard to fight, firefighters say

NORTHWEST HARRIS COUNTY, Texas – Two people were injured and 16 homes were destroyed Wednesday in a three-alarm apartment fire in northwest Harris County.

The Cypress Creek Fire Department and other emergency crews responded to the massive fire that broke out  just before 9 p.m.

Deep black smoke and heavy flames engulfed the Providence at Champions Apartments in the 5100 block of FM 1960 near Champions Forest.  One person was taken to the hospital with burns, another was treated at the scene for smoke inhalation.

[VIDEO: FIREFIGHTERS BATTLE NW HARRIS CO. APARTMENT FIRE]

Investigators said as the fire spread, cars parked in the garage under the building were burned. 

Firefighters worked late into the night and the next morning trying to extinguish the flames and monitor hot spots.

Firefighters said battling the blaze proved to be a challenge since the complex does not have fire hydrants. 

It's still unclear what caused the fire as authorities investigate.

The Red Cross was there to assist those who had been displaced.