More than a dozen families have been displaced after a fire tore through their apartment building in northwest Harris County during the strong storms that passed through on Thursday evening.
Firefighters from Klein and Ponderosa responded just after 6 p.m. to the London Park Apartments in the 145000 block of Bammel North Houston near Walters Road.
Video shared showed intense flames taking over multiple apartments. The fire started at the height of the storm, resident Emma Johnson said.
How it started was too close for Dra-kkar Wesley.
“The transformer exploded and landed on the corner of my patio,” he said.
The father then grabbed his three children and got out.
Deputy Chief Steve Kramer of Klein Volunteer Fire Department said their response was a little slower than usual due to traffic buildup caused by power outages at intersections. Seventy-two firefighters were on scene, fighting the fire from the ground and above by way of a tower ladder truck.
Eight units were destroyed, Kramer said. Eight more had water and smoke damage, and everyone escaped unharmed.
While residents believe weather is to blame, the Harris County Fire Marshal’s Office will make that determination after an investigation.