One woman was killed and two other people are hospitalized in a huge two-alarm fire at a northwest side apartment complex overnight, News Radio 1200 WOAI reports.
When fire crews arrived at the Ashler Oaks Apartments at Parkdale and Datapoint in the Medical Center area, flames were already shooting out of the building, and Fire Chief Charles Hood says firefighters saw people 'hanging off of balconies.'
"We had heavy fire on the second and third floors," Hood said. "Its hard to tell an origin but it was between the second and third floors, because they are just devastated."
Hood says the woman was found lying on a bed in an apartment bedroom, apparently already overcome by smoke.
He says firefighters were attempting a dramatic rescue.
"He was on the ladder and was about to step in," Hood said. "He had his arms out, but just then he heard a big boom and a flash back. The chances of anybody surviving that situation, they're not going to."
He said the firefighters had to retreat at that point.
Hood says 31 units were evacuated due to the fire.
One person is hospitalized with burns, and another is hospitalized with head injuries suffered when jumping off a third story balcony to avoid the flames.
Hood says arson investigators are on the scene. He says there is also no preliminary damage estimate.