EAST MONTGOMERY COUNTY- A Houston family will have to rebuild or find another home for their weekend getaways after fire destroyed their one-story wood frame house in the Porter area on Thursday morning.
Around 8 a.m., a neighbor on Walnut Drive in the Freeway Oak Estates subdivision called 911 to report the fire. By then, half the house was already consumed, according to Porter Fire Chief Jody Binnion.
The Chief saw a large column of smoke from the structure as he drove to work, but said he assumed it was the result of someone burning storm debris or clearing land.
He learned otherwise when the department was dispatched and arrived to find the structure fully involved.
Firefighters went into defensive mode immediately, assisted by New Caney Fire Department and Bennett Estates Volunteer Fire Department.
The home was a total loss, but the fire was prevented from spreading.
Assistant Montgomery County Fire Marshal Scott Burlin said the fire appeared to be accidental, was likely electrical, and that the owners were uninsured.