Express & Star

Incredible rescue from burning building

Fire ripped through an apartment block under construction in Houston, reducing it to rubble in just minutes.

Published

Hundreds of firefighters rushed to try to save the building as thick, black smoke billowed into the sky above the Texas city.

Houston Fire Department spokesman Captain Ruy Lozano said that the only people inside were construction workers and it is believed they all got out safely.

There were no injuries, but a construction worker had to be rescued from the third floor.

Employees at a nearby high-rise say the worker tried to use a fire extinguisher to put out the flames on the roof, but the fire suddenly began spreading. They watched in horror as the man looked desperately for a way to get down.

'The firemen did rescue him, but he did have to drop down a floor as the entire top floor started burning,' the employee said.

Mark Ivy, an employee at Stages Repertory Theatre, said that he could feel the heat several blocks away.

"We saw the flames jump (from the complex under construction) to the apartments where people are living," he said.

Witness Chris Williamson said he heard the structure of the building bend from the intense heat.

"I could hear metal buckling inside the building," he said.

No information was available about what sparked the blaze, but Capt Lozano said that high winds caused the fire to spread quickly. The complex was expected to take its first occupants in June.

Worker Lash LaRue said that he was installing phone lines on the fifth floor of the building when he heard a loud crash and then saw the ceiling collapsing and flames shooting through.

"It was wicked," LaRue said.

Sorry, we are not accepting comments on this article.