Overview
- Houston firefighters arrived around 2:30 a.m. to heavy smoke and an active evacuation at the Braesvalley Drive complex.
- Water access was delayed because interior hydrants did not work and a nearby street hydrant was broken, forcing crews to stretch about 1,000 feet of hose to a functioning hydrant.
- The blaze spread rapidly through a shared attic without dividers, damaging three connected buildings and causing partial roof loss and structural instability.
- Commanders briefly pulled crews over collapse concerns as storm-driven smoke limited visibility, and ladder trucks attacked the fire from above.
- Roughly 50 residents were displaced with no injuries reported, and the American Red Cross and METRO provided immediate assistance including a warming bus.