HOUSTON – Three Houston firefighters are recovering in the hospital after they were injured while responding to an apartment fire in Sunnyside Tuesday morning.
PREVIOUS: Firefighters battling large apartment fire in southwest Houston
Details are limited, so it’s unclear what caused the fire but officials with Houston Fire Department said they were called just before 5:30 a.m. at a complex on Coffee and Jarmese Street.
Several fire trucks were at the scene when KPRC 2′s Sky 2 helicopter and photojournalist Cesar Martinez arrived. Chief Thomas Munoz said about two rooms were destroyed by the flames. It’s unclear what caused the apartment fire, but arson is at the scene to investigate.
Initial responding crews worked to put out the flames and were trapped inside. Three firefighters from Station 46 suffered serious burns to their necks, hands, and legs. A mayday was called and additional reinforcements were called, and they were rescued by their colleague, who ripped one of the doors off.
Some of the equipment, Chief Munoz also mentioned, suffered a flashover, which means it melted due to being exposed to the intense heat.
RELATED: National firefighter shortage impacts Houston Fire Department
Mayor John Whitmire, who was present during a news conference and gave opening remarks noting he and the chief visited the 3 firefighters. Chief Munoz identified them as Darren Jones, Jonathan Guzman, and Sr. Captain Edward Eswere last said to be alert and responsive.
“Let’s keep our fire department in our prayers,” Mayor Whitmire said. “These injured firefighters and their families realize the risk that every day they go to work, and that’s why we love our firefighters in the City of Houston.”
SEE ALSO: Houston firefighters get new collective bargaining agreement for first time in decades
Also present at the news conference was Marty Lancton, president of the Houston Firefighters Union, where he thanked the public for their support, and echoed Whitmire’s statements about the dangers that come with being a firefighter.
“This is a dangerous job,” he said. “We are fortunate we do not have three firefighters that we are burying, but this is going to be a long recovery.”
HFD Arson is investigating the cause of the fire.