Firefighters with the Houston Rural Fire Department battled a house fire late Tuesday night just north of Houston.
Houston Rural Fire Chief Don Gaston said three trucks and 11 personnel responded at about 11:30 p.m. to the blaze at the residence of Elaine McCleary, at 8222 Mineral Drive.
Gaston said the house sustained severe damage, but the fire was snuffed before it was a total loss.
“I just talked to an insurance agent a little while ago and he was impressed by how we were able to get it put out,” he said. “I wouldn’t have bet two cents that we could have saved anything because the fire had already broke through the roof and was coming out the end of the house when we got there. But we managed to save pretty much the whole north end of the house and a lot of furniture and other belongings that were in there.”
Gaston said he wasn’t sure what caused the blaze, but it was difficult to deal with and firefighters didn’t get back to the Houston Rural fire station (on Walnut Street downtown) until about 4:30 a.m. Wednesday.
“We spent a long time battling it,” he said. “It was in the attic and there was a tin roof with shingles underneath and we couldn’t get to it. It was just one of those kinds.”