Nassau Bay, Texas – More than 100 firefighters from 15 agencies battled a large fire at a condominium in Nassau Bay Monday afternoon.
Nassau Bay Volunteer Fire Department, fire marshals, police and EMS were the first to respond to the fire in the vicinity of the Baytown Towers on Lakeside Lane.
Nassau Bay VFD chief Tom George said approximately 35% of the building has sustained damage, and the entire fourth floor collapsed. There’s a total of 74 condo units at the condominium.
Firefighters battling massive blaze at Nassau Bay condominium
Officials said there were residents inside the building at the time of the fire, but everyone was able to evacuate in a timely manner. There are no reports of any injuries, but 11 units were destroyed.
People in a second building nearby were also ordered to evacuate due to precaution.
Houston Fire Department, Seabrook, Webster, Forest Bend, Kemah, Friendswood, Port of Houston, and League City, and Houston Constables’ Office all assisted with the fire.
The cause of the fire is being investigated, but the blaze was accidental and started on the balcony of a top-floor unit. Overnight, a demolition crew worked to take down the north side of the building.
As a fire ripped through Bayfront Towers Condo Complex on Monday, Carl Miller and his wife Dalila made it out with the clothes on their back.
“A police officer came by and pounded on the door and said, ‘You need to get out.’ I said, ‘I need some shoes,’ he said, ‘Out--- now.’”
“At this time, no residents have been allowed in the structure,” Fire Marshal Tony Russo said. “We have requested from the property owner that they get a structural engineer out to the site to determine the stability or the structure and allow people to go in and retrieve belongings.”
Miller said he and his wife were hoping they would be able to retrieve some of their medications, but Russo said it will be a while before anyone is allowed inside, or can stay in what’s left.
“There’s no power. There’s no water. There’s no gas,” Russo said. “It’ll be some time before they are allowed to return if at all.”