HOUSTON – City leaders and investigators are raising questions about how an abandoned church in north Houston was secured before a fire burned through the property near I-45 and Parker Road.
Arson investigators returned to the site Tuesday, speaking with people experiencing homelessness in the area as they try to determine how the fire started.
Officials believe individuals living inside the vacant building may have started the fire to stay warm during cold weather.
The property has been empty for months. The Texas Department of Transportation purchased the site in 2020 as part of the I-45 expansion project. The church vacated the property last June.
TxDOT said it fenced the property but did not provide security, even though the agency uses security at other properties it has acquired. TxDOT added it had not received any reports of trespassing or other incidents at this location and said safety is a top priority.
Houston Mayor John Whitmire criticized TxDOT during a press conference Tuesday.
“As they condemned the properties for the widening of our freeway, they have to be responsible for them. They have to secure them and keep elements away,” Whitmire said.
Neighbors say the abandoned church has been a problem for months. One resident, Maria, declined to be shown on camera but told KPRC 2 News she has regularly seen people inside the building.
“It’s like zombies. All day they walk around like they have no life, and at night they go inside the church,” Maria said.
TxDOT said Houston fire officials have cleared the site for demolition, which is expected to begin this week. The investigation into the fire continues.