FEBRUARY 13, 2015
HOUSTON, TEXAS:
A
fire burned a vacant building sitting on the Quba Islamic Institute property
early Friday in southeast Houston.
It was
reported at 5:39 a.m. on FM 1959, not far from Ellington Airport
Air 11 was
overhead as firefighters worked to knock out the fire. Heavy smoke poured from
the facility, and flames shot from the roof. It was declared under control by
6:15 a.m., and there were no injuries reported.
"Honestly
I was shocked and I didn't expect that. Of course concerned also," said
Zahid Abullah, the leader of the mosque.
The burned
building had just been purchased and was going to be turned into a community
center, as well as a place for children to study Islam.
"When
I showed them the pictures, they started crying because you know they come here
with their dad every single day. We pray five times a day," said Hala
Saadeh, a mosque member.
Luckily,
firefighters kept the flames from spreading to the mosque where people gather
to pray. Some were headed there around the time of the fire but were quickly
turned away as firefighters blocked off FM 1959.
"We
are supposed to pray five times a day and in the morning at 6:15," said
Yousuf Silah, a mosque member.
As more
mosque members gathered, they wanted to know if the fire was deliberate or an
arson.
"It
says right on the sign Quba Islamic institute. We are not hiding
ourselves," said Saadeh.
"A lot
of people think like that, but like I said we don't know yet. Nobody knows
actually. So once they clear here, we will find out," said a mosque
member.
One thing
they did know, despite the setback, the services would go on.
"We
are a strong community, we'll just figure out what to. Build again," said
Silah.
Arson
investigators and the ATF were at the scene. The cause of the fire is still
under investigation.
According
to its
website, Quba serves as a school for youth and helps train community
leaders.