Old Bellaire school house catches fire

By Dale Lezon in The Houston Chronicle
A home that once served as a school house caught fire this morning, drawing fire fighting crews from Bellaire and Houston. The blaze was reported around 9:20 a.m. and took more than an hour to extinguish.

Neighbors in the 4900 block of Cedar Street said the home housed Bellaire’s first school. Those now living in the home escaped without injury, authorities said. No other homes were threatened.

Laszlo, 72, and Magda Kalocsay, 62, said they’ve lived in the home around 20 years. They said the fire began in an office area.

“We lost everything. It’s terrible,” said Magda Kalocsay. “I feel like I’m homeless.”

Laszlo Kalocsay suffered a slight burn while attempting to douse the flames with a garden hose. Items likely lost to the fire include a 300-year-old table and Laszlo Kalocsay’s diary, he said.