Houston neighbors pull family from burning townhome
Two children and their mother escaped via a third-story window after a car fire spread to the home on Beasley Hills Lane early Thursday.
By Fatima Saleh ·
A family of four is recovering from injuries sustained in a fire at a Greater Heights townhome early Thursday morning.
The incident occurred around 1:30 a.m. along Beasley Hills Lane. Houston Fire Department officials said a neighbor assisted in the rescue of two children who jumped from a third-story window to escape the flames.
John Bauer, a resident near the scene, reported hearing popping sounds and seeing an orange glow emanating from the property. He observed a vehicle on fire and called 911 before running toward the house with another neighbor. The group heard screaming from the side of the structure and located a mother and her two daughters inside.
Bauer described jumping a fence to guide the family by voice. He caught the first girl as she descended, while he and the other neighbor caught the second child. They also assisted the mother in her jump from the window.
“It was a pretty significant fire going on,” Bauer said. “There was a lot of smoke.” He added that he is grateful the girls are unharmed and hopes the parents make a full recovery.
Investigators believe the fire originated in the garage after a car caught flame. The father managed to move the burning vehicle out of the garage, but the fire had already spread to the home. He suffered severe burns while attempting to evacuate his family. The mother sustained injuries from her fall out of the window.
Brooke Murski, another neighbor, woke to screaming and popping noises before seeing the car and home ablaze. She stated that neighbors worked together to ensure the family’s safe exit. “It went from zero to 100, and the flames almost engulfed the house,” Murski said. “It’s really a miracle that everyone did get out alive.”
The fire was contained to the single townhome. The two girls are reported to be okay. Both parents remain hospitalized. Authorities said the mother has back injuries, while the father is in critical condition with serious burns. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
