Woman found dead in Tomball shed fire, authorities investigating cause

A woman was found dead after a fire broke out in a shed in Tomball this morning.

Authorities are investigating the cause of a deadly fire that broke out at a shed in the 14000 block of Medical Complex Drive.

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Firefighters arrived to find the structure fully engulfed in flames and later discovered the victim’s body inside.

“When we got here, the shed was fully involved and unrecognizable at the time,” said Tomball Rescue Fire Chief J. Sykora.

Sky2 aerial footage captured the aftermath, showing the charred remains of the shed. Investigators say the property had multiple makeshift structures, including a travel trailer where two other individuals lived. Those residents were able to provide witness statements.

“We had a couple of makeshift structures an individual was living in here at the property,” said HCFMO Chief Investigator Mitchell Weston. “We also had a travel trailer that two individuals are living in here at the property, and those individuals were able to talk to us and provide some witness information and let us know that someone was sleeping in what they categorized as a shed when they discovered fire.”

Officials have not determined what caused the fire, but investigators are looking into whether the victim was using an alternative heating source to stay warm.

“So I think all those things are certainly valid and within the realm of possibility, but we do not know for a fact that it was a fire caused by warming,” Weston said. “Right now, we do know that the individual had an alternative heating source inside of that shed. Trying to stay warm, so it is certainly a possibility, but we’ve not made that definitive decision yet.”

As temperatures drop, authorities warn about the dangers of using alternative heating sources without proper safety precautions.

“If you’re going to use an alternative heating source, a space heater, you have to make sure that you have plenty of room around it,” Weston advised. “If you’re using a space heater that is heated by a fuel gas, you need to be very concerned about carbon monoxide. Utilize a heater that has a carbon monoxide detector built into it.”

The Harris County Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating to determine how the fire started. The victim’s identity has not yet been released as officials await the medical examiner’s findings.