Twelve families were displaced after a fire damaged an apartment building at a complex in west Houston, according to the Houston Fire Department.
Crews responded to reports of a fire at Abbey at Briar Forest Apartments, located at 1919 S. Kirkwood Rd, after 4 p.m. Thursday.
“Arson is investigating to determine a cause,” said Martee Black, HFD’s public information officer.
Firefighters contained the fire to one building.
Melisa Stewart, whose unit was damaged, said she was working from home when she heard a boom.
“My three-year-old and my one-year-old were both taking a nap and when I heard the big boom I immediately threw off my headset. I didn’t know what was going on,” Stewart said.
That boom was the sound of Tiffany Holland knocking on the door. Holland lives in another building that didn’t catch fire. She said she saw flames and knew she needed to help.
“If it weren’t two minutes, they would have been done,” Holland said.
Lanre Babalola recorded a video from his car once he and his son made it out.
“We were asleep. We were taking a nap and someone was banging on our door and I think I heard fire,” Babalolasaid.
No injuries were reported. The Red Cross was on scene to help families who needed housing.