Richmond Avenue apartment building goes up in flames

HOUSTON (FOX 26) - Houston Fire Department crews responded to a three-alarm apartment building fire in the 13700 block of Richmond Avenue.

Cell phone video shows the building in flames. People who live there tell FOX 26 News that it started at around 3:30 p.m. Saturday.

Dwayne Adams says his fiancé was inside at the time and called him to tell him to get home as soon as possible.

“When I got here, I saw flames, smoke," adds Adams. "When I got here, it was big and when I saw the building, I just could not believe it.”

People who live in the apartment complex say the fire affected nine different units, seven of which were occupied.

Heather Walker says her home is fine, but that she still has not been able to get back in to check on her dog.

“You could not begin to describe the amount of relief that left off me knowing that it was not mine, my actual apartment, but for everybody else, it’s painful,” says Walker.

Even though several families are now without a place to live and have lost so much, several taught us they were thankful it wasn’t worse.

“I’m glad everybody’s OK, everybody made it out safe,” adds Walker. “I just want to thank the fire department. They did a great job, they all worked really, really hard and I thank God that everybody’s OK. No one died tonight so that’s most important thing.”

American Red Cross has been out to help the affected families and has given them a hotel room for the night. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.