Sunday, June 12, 2016

Massive condo fire displaces Texas City residents








Although low water pressure hindered firefighters, a firewall kept the fire contained to 8 units.





Lauren Lea
Saturday, June 11, 2016 10:54PM
TEXAS CITY, TX (KTRK) -- Texas City firefighters were battling a condo fire Saturday evening at the Gatsby Condos on the Emmett F. Lowry Expressway. Emergency officials believe the fire started on the balcony of the units in Building 4 at about 7:30pm.

Firefighters contained the fire to eight units. A firewall kept the fire from spreading further and, three hours after the fire began, they were still spraying water on the building.



No one was hurt, and all of the residents were believed to have gotten out safely, according to officials at the scene.

An abc13 Eyewitness shared cell phone video of flames leaping out of the roof of the building. Some residents were kept out of the complex late into the evening because of the emergency crews still on the scene.

Two privately maintained hydrants on the property had low water pressure, which slowed firefighting efforts, according to Texas City Emergency Management Coordinator Derek Duckett. He said Galveston, San Leon and Dickinson fire crews were on scene assisting Texas City firefighters.