Just as the holiday season is getting started, a Houston family now has no place to spend the holidays.

Several families have been displaced after a fire destroyed several units at an apartment in west Harris County Monday, firefighters said.

HOUSTON As Hurricane Laura looms closer, many may be wondering if theyre really ready for the worst. Community Volunteer Fire Department Public Information Officer Lieutenant Kris Parrent shares what their team is doing and what you can do ahead of the hurricane. The Community Volunteer Fire Department was officially established on April 12, 1971. Here are some important storm safety reminders to help you get ready for Hurricane Laura. Community Volunteer Fire Department Public Information Officer Lieutenant Kris Parrent shares what their team is doing to prepare for the storm.

Though many think of their pets as part of the family, people often forget to consider their pets when planning for emergencies. Lieutenant Dennis Maldonado of the Community Volunteer Fire Department shares tips to help pet owners be better prepared in the event of an emergency. Make your pets part of your emergency escape plan; practice with the whole family regularlyKeep pet contact info (collars, chips, etc.) current in case they escapeWhile some think its safe to leave your pet home alone around certain hazards, Maldonado disagrees. A good rule of thumb is, if its not safe to leave around a small child, its not safe for a pet either.

HOUSTON Flames ripped through a commercial building in west Houston Saturday night. The fire was first reported around 10:30 p.m. at a commercial building near the intersection of Empanada Drive and Texas State Highway 6. When crews arrived, they found heavy fire and smoke coming from a building under renovation. Community Volunteer Fire Department requested mutual aid from several area agencies. Firefighters attacked the blaze and it took around 30 to 40 minutes to knock down the fire, Community Volunteer Fire Department Public Information Officer Kris Parrent said.