A two-alarm fire tore through the West Oaks Landing Apartments in southwest Harris County on Sunday afternoon, partially collapsing the building’s second floor and sections of its exterior. Authorities say multiple residents will be displaced, though no injuries were reported among tenants.
The Community Volunteer Fire Department said crews responded at about 4:30 p.m. to the complex in the 15200 block of Gray Ridge Drive near Addicks Clodine Road, according to ABC13. Fire crews told the outlet that both the second floor and parts of the building’s exterior partially collapsed as the flames spread through the structure.
Officials advised the public to avoid the area while emergency crews worked the scene, and ABC13 crews were on-site Sunday afternoon documenting the damage. Authorities told the station there were no reported injuries, though one firefighter was treated for heat-related issues and was later said to be OK.
Cause Still Under Investigation
The Harris County Fire Marshal’s Office will investigate the cause of the fire, officials said. Per the same account, multiple people will be displaced due to the damage, though the exact number of affected households has not been released.
This is not the first apartment fire to disrupt a Houston-area community in recent months. A three-alarm fire struck the Pont Alba apartments in Bellaire in late July, drawing roughly 60 firefighters and mutual aid from the West University Place, Southside Place and Houston fire departments, according to Click2Houston. That blaze affected an estimated 16 units, and like Sunday’s fire, sent one firefighter to be treated for heat exhaustion while no civilians were hurt.
What Happens Next for Displaced Residents
In the Bellaire fire, the American Red Cross was notified and dispatched a representative to help displaced residents, Click2Houston reported, though it remains unclear whether similar assistance has been arranged for tenants at West Oaks Landing. The cause of that July fire also remained under investigation, the outlet noted, mirroring the open-ended status of Sunday’s incident in southwest Harris County.
For now, residents of West Oaks Landing Apartments are left waiting on findings from the fire marshal’s office as crews continue assessing the damage to the partially collapsed structure.
