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Crystal D. Randall Charged With Reckless Arson After Balcony BBQ Fire Damages 13 Apartments

Officials cite wind-driven embers alongside access problems as factors behind the building’s extensive damage.

Overview

  • The Harris County Fire Marshal identified Randall as the suspect and filed a reckless arson charge tied to the Southlake Villas fire in Sheldon.
  • Investigators say a domestic disturbance preceded Randall burning her boyfriend’s clothes in a barbecue pit on a second-floor balcony.
  • The flames later rekindled in windy conditions and spread through the structure, leaving 13 units heavily and irreparably damaged.
  • Fire crews reported delays from malfunctioning gates and hydrants located across the street, then returned for a hotspot when a second-floor collapse injured a fire captain.
  • All residents escaped; the injured captain is hospitalized in stable condition, and Randall was also taken to a hospital for undisclosed reasons.