Blaze damages $12 million home near Rice University

By Allan Turner in The Houston Chronicle
A two-alarm fire of unknown origin raced through the Rice University-area mansion of Houston oil executive Anthony Petrello on Wednesday, damaging the $12 million structure’s first and second floors but causing no injuries.

More than 100 firefighters in 34 units responded to the blaze, which was reported at 10 Remington Lane about 11:30 a.m. Assistant Fire Chief Kevin Alexander said members of Petrello’s family escaped unharmed.

The first firefighters at the scene reported light smoke coming from the home. A second alarm was sounded shortly after noon, primarily, Alexander said, because firefighters were concerned the flames might spread to nearby buildings. The fire, which never reached the home’s exterior, was declared extinguished at 1:05 p.m.

Although the fire reached the attic, Alexander said it was confined to one side of the structure. Arson investigators were summoned to determine the fire’s cause, but Alexander said that action is routine in all two-alarm fires.

Petrello, who is president of Nabors Industries, a major on-shore drilling company, did not return telephone calls. Petrello has ranked among the city’s highest-paid executives for many years. Last year his salary exceeded $22 million.

County records indicate the 16,000-plus square foot Petrello home contains five bedrooms, five bathrooms and has a market value of about $12 million. The home was a recommended stop in a New York Times-published walking tour of the Rice University area.

The house was built in 1935 for William Stamps Farish II, a founder of Humble Oil and Refining Co., now Exxon Mobil. At the time the house was constructed, Farish was president of Standard Oil Co. of New Jersey. He died in 1942.

Petrello moved into the home in 2000.