ALDINE – A major fire in the ill-fated Haverstock Hills Apartments on Aldine Bender Road destroyed one complete building early Friday morning, and displaced at least 24 families.
The two-alarm fire occurred about 3:00am on Friday morning, and the Eastex Fire Department and others responded. It took several hours to put out the fire, which left a pile of charred wood on the upper floors of the building. The firemen were still putting out hot spots as the morning dawned.
There were no injuries to residents or firefighters, but early reports said that one resident was missing, who was found later. Many of the residents said they lost everything in the fire. The apartment management was attempting to relocate families in available units in the complex.
The Red Cross was called to the scene, to provide food and bedding to those who needed it.
As the fire spread in the night, residents went door to door alerting sleeping inhabitants so they could get out safely.
The Harris County Fire Marshal’s Office is on the scene, investigating the cause of the fire. Although this is a normal procedure, there is also some reports from residents that an altercation earlier might have resulted in arson as retaliation. This is being investigated.