Members of both Houston fire departments responded early Wednesday evening to a barn blaze south of the Houston Memorial Airport.
A barn at the historic Tweed property was totally engulfed in flames. Firefighters from the City of Houston and Houston Rural departments were able to prevent the blaze from spreading to nearby structures, including the vacant home that dates to Civil War days and is believed to be the oldest standing structure in the community.
Houston City Assistant Chief Joey Moore said his department had two trucks and 11 personnel at the scene, while Rural responded with two trucks and three firefighters. Moore also said the fire might have been deliberately set.
“It was definitely suspicious,” he said. “It’s under investigation right now.”
Houston Police Chief Jim McNiell said his department was looking into what caused the blaze and that two minor boys were seen at the location not long before it broke out.
“We did an interview with a young man,” McNiell said, “and the investigation is continuing. We’re trying to identify two subjects who had been in there shortly before.”