HOUSTON – A toddler was killed Monday in a southwest Houston apartment fire, according to an official source.
The fire was reported about 2 p.m. at the intersection of Corporate and Westwood Place drives.
Thick black smoke was seen rising from the area of the fire.
Firefighters said they could confirm there was a fatality involved with the fire, and a source confirmed to KPRC 2 reporter Phil Archer that the victim was a toddler. Relatives of the victim said 2-year-old Gisele Ayleen Gomez was killed in the fire.
They said Gisele, her mother and 5-year-old brother were inside the apartment when the fire broke out.
The fire began in a television set in the child's bedroom where Gisele was playing, the mother said. She said by the time she realized there was a fire, there was heavy smoke coming from Gisele's bedroom and she was unable to find her daughter.
The mother said she was able to get her son to safety and call for help.
An upstairs neighbor, Crystal Gonzales, said just before she was forced from her apartment by the flames, she heard arguing coming from the apartment, then an explosion. Gonzales said she saw Gisele's mother frantically calling for help.
A team of investigators are combing through the debris.
