Houston FD investigates another suspicious fire in Heights area

The Houston Fire Department is investigating another suspicious house fire in the Heights. HFD responded to the scene, located on Herkimer near W. 16th Street, just after 8:30 p.m. Wednesday. A woman standing on a nearby balcony spotted the fire in its beginning stages and called authorities.

“I was just up on my balcony, on the outside, and thought that maybe they had a controlled burn going on, maybe burning some stuff in a trash can or what have you. And I walked over here, and it was definitely not a controlled burn. It was right near the front porch. Something was on fire, and the fire started to go up the side of the house,” neighbor Dena McGee said.

HFD responded quickly and extinguished the blaze.

Neighbors tried to alert the man inside the home, but did not receive a response. Firefighters were able to make entry and removed him safely. The man was treated for non life-threatening injuries.

Arson is investigating, and police brought in three K-9 units as a precaution.

This is the 19th suspicious fire set in or near the Heights area since the summer.

Police arrested David Joseph Prince on November 13 for allegedly setting a fire at a home located at 807 W. 12th on September 17. Prince was charged with one count of arson. He is still in jail.
From KHOU News, Houston