PEARLAND, Texas – Pearland Fire Department officials said a three alarm house fire was hard to contain because there were no fire hydrants on the county street.
Battalion Chief Mark Faber said the fire started Friday evening at a home in the 7700 block of Jenkins road in Brazoria County, just outside of Pearland city limits.
"When we arrived there was a very heavy column of fire and a very heavy column of smoke," said Faber. "So the fire was well involved."
Faber said his firefighters called at least four nearby fire departments in to help. With no fire hydrants on the street, crews scrambled to bring water in trucks to douse the 3-alarm fire.
"If we had a hydrant it probably wouldn't have gone to but a first alarm," said Faber.
Fire officials said the home is completely destroyed, but the family made it out safely.
Mike Abshire lives across the street and saw the family get out of their burning home.
"We saw them run by with the kids," said Abshire.
As firefighters put out the final hot spots, they promised to continue helping in any way they can.
"We're going to try to reach out to the owner and find out what their needs are and find them some place to stay tonight," said Faber.
County arson investigators are looking into the cause of the fire.