New day, new trial
The Astrodome's on fire: Crews battle electric blaze, smoke
The Eighth Wonder of the World — Houston's iconic Astrodome — found itself in a new kind of danger Friday afternoon.
No one was trying to tear down the retired stadium. Instead, an electric fire broke out on the east end of the building, sending smoke billowing through the cavernous place.
Firefighters contained the blaze, but they are still on scene, according to KTRK Ch. 13. The biggest problem seems to be the immense amount of smoke created rather than damage from the fire.
Ever since the Astros played their last game at the Astrodome on Oct. 9, 1999, The Wonder's faced an increasingly desperate fate. For several years, only security guards and maintenance workers have been allowed in the building. This fire's just one more indignity for the place that no one knows what to do with.