What began as New Year’s celebrations just after midnight turned into a massive fire at an apartment complex in southwest Houston, leaving multiple families displaced on the first day of 2026.
Houston firefighters were called to the Bayou West Condominiums on Club Creek Drive shortly after 12 a.m. Flames were already shooting from the building when crews arrived.
Witnesses told investigators they saw a firework land on a balcony moments before the fire started. Fire officials say fireworks, particularly aerial rockets, are the primary focus of the investigation.
Firefighters faced immediate challenges when low water pressure prevented ladder trucks from attacking the fire from above. Crews were forced to fight the blaze using hand lines from the ground while water pressure was restored.
By the time pressure returned, the fire had spread through the roof, prompting commanders to call in additional units. Between 40 and 60 firefighters worked for hours to bring the fire under control.
Deputy Chief Bryan Sky-Eagle with the Houston Fire Department said crews found multiple boxes of fireworks at the scene and believe rockets fired during the celebration likely struck the balcony and roof area where the fire was most intense.
Fire officials estimate 16 to 20 condo units were damaged. The American Red Cross is assisting residents who were displaced by the fire. No serious injuries have been reported.
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