HOUSTON – Two people died and two others were transported to the hospital Monday after a fire that spread to multiple mobile homes in northeast Harris County, the Sheldon Fire Department said.
Sheldon firefighters responded to reports of a residence on fire in the 8800 block of Furay Avenue at around 11:40 p.m.
When emergency crews arrived at the scene, they found three mobile homes with heavy fire and smoke coming from them.
Most of the homes were completely destroyed, officials said. Investigators said two people were able to make it out of the fire and were transported by ambulance. Two other individuals were pronounced dead at the scene, Sheldon FD said.
The fire was caused by an overloaded extension cord supplying power to one of the mobile homes, the Harris County Fire Marshal’s Office said.
Isaias Banda and his brother tried putting out the flames.
“I heard my mom talking about there was a fire going on. I ran outside and I went to check but it was already too late to put the water on the fence so my brother and me started grabbing the water and throwing it all over the grass, so it won’t spread around our house,” Isaias said.
The fire spread to Banda’s fence and charred a vehicle.
“It was pretty scary. A lot of adrenaline. It was all pretty fast,” he said.
HCFMO released the following statement after discovering the case of the fire:
“It’s important to remember that extension cords should only be used temporarily, and never as a permanent solution. Additionally, when selecting a cord, make sure it’s rated to handle the wattage of the device you’re using. For larger transfers of power, it’s best to consult a state licensed electrician to ensure that the connection is safe and proper.”