Dozens displaced after 3-alarm apartment fire in northwest Houston

One firefighter taken to the hospital with minor injuries

HOUSTON – Up to 135 people were displaced Monday after a three-alarm fire at a northwest Houston apartment complex.

According to the Houston Fire Department, the fire was reported just before 2 a.m. in the 6100 block of Antoine. Residents of the building were evacuated and firefighters called second and third alarms in order to get more firefighters at the scene.

According to the Red Cross, a total of 35 units were damaged or destroyed, and 15 others were also affected.

Alberta Robinson, a first floor resident, said her unit was among those heavily damaged. She initially thought her unit had only received smoke damage. Instead, she discovered that the entire bedroom ceiling had collapsed and the apartment was full of water.

"They did the best job they could do to put the fire out, but it destroyed a lot of units. I'm not the only one, but I didn't expect to see what I saw," Robinson said.

Residents said neighbors banged on doors this morning to wake them up and notify them of the danger.

"When I came out, the fire was just blazing everywhere. So I grabbed a couple of items and I tried to knock on as many doors as I could and I got my dog out," said resident James Nunn.

The Red Cross sent a team of volunteers to help assist residents with their immediate needs. An organization representative told Local 2 that apartment managers were working to move the displaced residents into other units by the end of the day.

The Houston Fire Department said the fire's cause remains unknown. It appeared to start in a first floor unit and then spread to the others.