Overview
- Prosecutors charged David Gibson, 42, with felony arson, alleging he ignited material inside the vacant complex and told investigators he started the fire to keep warm.
- Court documents say Gibson left the building when smoke grew unbearable as the Monday afternoon fire spread through the former Centro Cristiano site off the North Freeway.
- Arson investigators returned Tuesday to interview people experiencing homelessness near the property; no injuries were reported and roughly 100 firefighters responded.
- TxDOT said it bought the property for the I-45 expansion, installed fencing, and had no prior trespass reports, but it did not staff security at this site though it does at others.
- Fire officials cleared the location for demolition expected this week, reporters observed new security cameras on-site, and Mayor John Whitmire publicly pressed TxDOT to better secure condemned parcels.