WHAT: 2-alarm townhome fire.
WHEN: March 20, 2025, at 2:23 a.m.
WHERE: 100 block of Litchfield Ln. 77024.
INJURIES: One civilian was transported to the hospital.
PROPERTY SAVED: Not available.
DAMAGE: $500,000 in estimated damage.
CAUSE: HFD Arson investigators ruled the cause as accidental due to carelessly discarded smoking material.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Firefighters arrived on scene with heavy fire coming from a 2-story townhome and a second alarm was requested. Crews made an attack on the fire and protected the nearby exposures. A primary search was completed on the neighboring homes and two occupants were evacuated.
Firefighters switched to a defensive attack, rotating through rehab, to control the fully involved townhome. Due to structural instability and ongoing fire involvement crews were unable to gain access to the home, however, they were informed everyone was safely outside. One civilian was transported to the hospital.
The fire tapped out at about 5 a.m. with crews remaining on scene to ensure all hot spots were fully extinguished until about 3 p.m. HFD Arson investigators were requested to determine the cause and origin of the fire. 95 personnel responded to this incident, including firefighters from Stations 69, 2, 15, 5, 28, 78, 83, 10, 38, 49, 57, 60, 75, 11, 6, 77, 37, 30, Command Van 8, Rescue 1 and 10 and Rehab 42.
HFD Arson investigators ruled the cause as accidental due to carelessly discarded smoking material. Cigarettes and other smoking materials can smolder for hours, starting a fire hours later. To help prevent such a tragedy, completely douse them with water before discarding them in an appropriate container.