WHAT: 2-alarm apartment fire.
WHEN: January 2, 2025, at 5:43 a.m.
WHERE: 2832 S. Bartell Dr. 77054.
INJURIES: Two residents and one firefighter were transported to the hospital.
PROPERTY SAVED: Not available.
DAMAGE: $1,500,000 in estimated damage.
CAUSE: HFD Arson investigators ruled the cause as accidental due to careless disregarding of smoking material.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Firefighters arrived on scene to find fire coming from the second floor of an apartment building with residents jumping off the balconies of the adjoining apartments units. A second alarm was requested. Crews assisted the residents down and attempted to extinguish the fire from the exterior. Two civilians were transported to the hospital.
Firefighters made entry into the unit and controlled the fire. The building was ventilated with fans and crews ensured all hotspots were completely out. One firefighter injured his leg and was transported to the hospital for evaluation.
HFD Arson investigators were requested to determine the cause and origin of the fire. 120 personnel responded to this incident, including crews from Stations 16, 37, 47, 82, 2, 15, 8, 21, 46, 59, 3, 7, 33, 48, 18, 33, 6, 24, 30, Heavy Rescue 11, Rescue 10, Rescue 42, and Rehab 42.