Fire at Car Dealership in Houston

By Stacy Morrow and Jeremy Desel at KHOU News, Houston
Photos of fire from KHOU News, Houston
Houston firefighters battled a two-alarm fire Monday at the West Point Lincoln Mercury dealership in the 11600 block of the Katy Freeway. The dealership’s employees and customers were evacuated at about 2:50 p.m. when heavy smoke was seen inside the building, officials said.

“The occupants that were inside said that they heard a popping sound. That is what initiated the call to HFD,” said Houston Fire Assistant Chief Kevin Alexander.

Everyone was able to exit the building safely, Assistant Fire Chief Karen Dupont said.

“I heard an explosion,” said Ali Derawsha, who runs a granite shop next door. “The glass popped and all of that.”

Air 11 video showed thick black smoke pouring from the dealership as the fire consumed the parts warehouse, which used to be the used car showroom.

“There was quite a bit of smoke coming out, and shortly there after it was pretty much engulfed in flames,” said Chris Poluos, the general manager of the dealership. “The building went, frankly, very quickly.”

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

The dealership is owned by Kenneth Stanley “Bud” Adams, Jr. who is the founder, owner and CEO of the Titans/Oilers NFL franchise.
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Raw video from KHOU News, Houston
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Report and video from The Houston Chronicle
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Report from KTRK News, Houston