Cypress Creek Firefighters Injured in Apartment Fire

By Erik Barajas at KTRK News, Houston
A fire in northwest Houston has left a family there cleaning up. Firefighters were slowed down by the home’s burglar bars. The fire started Wednesday afternoon on Candlecrest and Marcella. SkyEye HD was over the scene as flames poured from a kitchen window near the driveway.

As firefighters arrived on the scene, their plan of attack was slowed by burglar bars outfitted on nearly every window and the front door.

“That does tie up one of our crews strictly working on gaining access. so yea it’s a little bit of a hamper to us,” said District 31 Chief Kevin Carly.

Firefighters said it appears the blaze broke out in the kitchen, possibly the oven. The homeowners escaped unscathed. Their belongings and home, however, suffered serious damage.

Though firefighters are not sure, some damage to the home could have been spared without the burglar bars.

“For one getting access to the house, but also if we have any firefighters inside that run into trouble, having a safe exit for them. So, yea, anytime there are burglar bars, it’s a concern for the fire department,” said Chief Carly.

Due to the large amount of damage, arson is investigating. Chief Carly told us if you must install burglar bars, then opt for the models with an easy exit feature. Burglar bars can be deadly in fires. According to the National Fire Protection Association, each year in the U.S., there are about 20 fire-related deaths involving burglar bars.
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From KRIV News, Houston
Two Cypress Creek volunteer firefighters suffered minor injuries battling an apartment fire. It happened at the Prestonwood Apartments near 249 and Grant Road.

About 10 families are displaced because of fire or water damage to their apartments.
Harris County arson investigators say two small children started the fire by playing with a lighter in the laundry room.

The fire spread to a common attic.
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From The Houston Chronicle
1 firefighter suffers minor injury in NW Harris Co. blaze
Investigators are trying to determine the cause of blaze at a northwest Harris County apartment complex overnight in which one volunteer firefighter sustained a minor injury to his hand two others suffered heat exhaustion.

The fire in the 13200 block of Prestonwood near Texas 249 started in a laundry room and spread through the attic, officials said. No other injuries were reported.