HOUSTON – Firefighters say three people who were reported missing after a large fire broke out at a southwest Houston apartment complex have been accounted for.
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The Houston Fire Department said the call came in at 4:52 p.m. from the Westmount at Braesridge Apartments located at 11100 Braesridge.
The fire was upgraded to a 2-alarm fire, which means more manpower was brought in.
Deputy Chief Bryan Sky-Eagle says they were called after getting reports of fire on the roof of one of the buildings. They arrived to find heavy smoke and fire.
While they were fighting the fire, they were told of three individuals who were missing. Firefighters began searching for them while others continued to fight the flames.
One of the missing people was an 80-year-old woman who was asleep in her second floor apartment in the building where the fire broke out. Sky-Eagle says she was awoken by a fire alarm and, with the help of a friend, was able to make it to another unit in another building.
A second person, described as 90-years-old, was also able to get out of the building and was later located. He was transported to a hospital for smoke inhalation.
The third missing individual, an elderly man, was found and is being evaluated by emergency medical services.
Sky-Eagle says the fire posed a big challenge due to the connecting buildings. The fire ultimately spread across the roof to three buildings.
Officials say they believe the fire began either on the roof or on the third floor of one of the buildings. They are still investigating.
No firefighters were hurt while responding to the blaze.