HOUSTON – Rows of recreational vehicles, campers and boats were destroyed after a fire tore through a northwest Harris County RV storage facility.
The fire started around 1:45 a.m. Tuesday on Mathis Church Road and FM 1960. Firefighters said they received reports of an explosion and fire.
When they arrived, dozens of vehicles and a 75-foot covered-parking area were burning.
The fire was contained three hours later. Firefighters said the damage was estimated to be nearly $300,000. The fire was stopped before spreading to a neighboring lumber and pallet yard.
"We were hampered with water supplies on the front end. Approximately 1,600 feet away was the nearest hydrant. And we did do that. That takes a little time. We moved west, but we did cut it off and save a few vehicles," Harris County's Ponderosa Fire Department Chief Fred Windisch said.
Investigators said about 12 RVs and boats were destroyed.
Dave Kubiak's RV was lost in the fire.
"Everything is gone," he said. "The marble countertops, TVs ... everything's just melted to the ground. You can't hardly tell anything from anything."
No one was hurt.
The fire marshal is working to determine the cause.
"We are examining the scene to try and determine the cause of this fire," said Investigator Bryan Holmes of the Harris County Fire Marshal's Office. "Due to the fire consuming so many vehicles, there are a lot of potential causes for the fire that we have to consider. We believe that the fire may have started in one of the recreational vehicles parked on the lot."