A three-alarm blaze swept through a Galleria-area complex Wednesday night, destroying a number of small businesses and apartments.
Firefighters arrived at the scene just after 9 p.m. as flames engulfed the downstairs portion of a mixed-use building on the 2700 block of Crossview near Westheimer.
The fire is believed to have started in one of the first floor businesses — which include a hair salon, fashion store and musical instrument repair shop.
According to KHOU Ch. 11, the fire is believed to have started in one of the six first floor businesses — which include a hair salon, fashion accessories store and musical instrument repair shop — before spreading to the apartments upstairs.
Houston Fire Department spokesperson Jay Evans tells CultureMap that firefighters, following the tip of a nearby witness, searched for a woman trapped on the second floor. After several sweeps of the site, however, no one was located.
In total, HFD said approximately 135 fire personnel and more than 40 pieces of equipment were needed to battle the blaze, which was extinguished after an hour. Though one firefighter suffered a minor fall, no serious injuries were reported.
An arson team with the fire department is investigating the damage and speaking with area residents.
Watch the KHOU raw video footage:
