A multi-alarm fire tore through an apartment complex in Richmond on Sunday, sending three people to area hospitals and forcing dozens from their homes, officials said. Crews arrived to find heavy flames at the complex along Mustang Drive near Lamar Drive, and nearby units were cleared out as a precaution. Most residents were accounted for at the scene, and authorities said the injured were taken to hospitals in stable condition.
Richmond Fire Chief Mike Legoudes said one of the buildings was already heavily involved when crews pulled up, triggering a multi-alarm response that brought in help from neighboring departments. Firefighters worked into the morning chasing hot spots and checking units for damage and hazards while the three hospitalized residents remained in stable condition, as reported by KHOU.
Fire Response And Investigation
The Richmond Fire Marshal's Office is leading the investigation into what sparked the blaze and how it moved through the building. After the flames were brought under control, firefighters went unit by unit, searching for hazards and double-checking for anyone who might still be inside. The Richmond Fire Department said crews worked to account for residents at the scene before evacuees were directed to temporary shelter options.
Where Evacuees Were Taken
Dozens of displaced residents were transported by bus to a warming center at the Fort Bend County Fairgrounds in Rosenberg, according to KHOU. The Fort Bend County site lists the fairgrounds and notes the location is often used as a staging area for county services.
What Officials Say Next
Investigators have not yet released a cause for the fire, according to the Richmond Fire Department. The Fire Marshal's Office will focus on pinpointing where the blaze began and how it spread through the affected building. Officials are asking anyone with photos or information from the scene to contact the Fire Marshal's Office as the investigation continues.
Authorities have not given a timeline for when residents might be allowed back into the damaged units and said housing assistance is being coordinated for those displaced. Officials said they will release more details as they become available.
