Fire crews spent the night battling a fire that tore through an office building in west Houston, causing part of the structure to collapse.
The fire broke out around 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Tran Law Group building near West Beltway 8 Northbound and Bellaire Boulevard. Houston firefighters arrived to find heavy smoke and flames coming from the second floor.
Initially, crews attempted to fight the fire from inside, but extreme heat forced them to retreat. As the blaze intensified, a second and then third alarm was called, bringing more than 120 firefighters to the scene. Winds overnight helped spread the flames, eventually causing sections of the building’s exterior walls to buckle and the fire to break through the roof.
Sky 2 captured aerial footage of firefighters battling the flames as part of the upper floor collapsed. Fortunately, no injuries have been reported.
Authorities say the fire started in an electrical panel near a stairwell, though the exact cause remains under investigation. Crews have since put out the flames but continue monitoring the site for potential flare-ups.
CenterPoint Energy shut off power to the area as a precaution, and it could remain off through the morning. Officials are urging people to avoid the area while emergency crews work to secure the site.
KPRC 2′s T.J. Parker will be live at the scene with the latest updates throughout the morning.