Houston fireplace officers say an explosion in a boiler room at a downtown high-rise injured a number of folks Thursday morning. Crews are nonetheless on scene.
HOUSTON — A boiler explosion inside a lodge beneath building in downtown Houston injured a number of folks late Thursday morning, in accordance with Houston fireplace officers.
What we all know
The Houston Fireplace Division stated the incident occurred round 11:08 a.m. at a constructing positioned at 1319 Texas Avenue close to Austin Road, simply west of Discovery Inexperienced.
The constructing is a 17-story Vacation Inn Specific and Staybridge Suites lodge challenge that has been beneath building since October 2023. The 275-room growth was anticipated to open in October 2025. It is among the bigger lodge tasks underway in downtown Houston.
What occurred
Fireplace officers stated the explosion occurred within the boiler room close to the highest of the constructing, blowing out home windows and siding. Witness video and pictures from Air 11 confirmed seen injury on the roof degree, with particles falling onto the roadway beneath.
Paul Navejar lives within the close by Catalyst high-rise and heard the explosion.
“Simply after 11 o’clock, I used to be watching TV with my canine and I heard a loud growth,” he stated. “So I went to the facet the place I may see the constructing, and at that time, I may see glass raining down and elements of the constructing like flapping particles, and that’s once I knew there’d been an explosion.”
Navejar stated he even spoke to among the employees who had been on the website.
“A few the fellows I talked to stated that they had been on the ground and that they, they imagine elements of the constructing, you realize, the ceiling collapsed in on them,” Navejar stated. “… So I requested, ‘did anybody get damage?’ and so they’re like, ‘I do not know, we simply ran out of there as quick as we may.’”
Accidents reported
Authorities confirmed that a number of folks had been injured within the blast. Whereas officers haven’t launched actual numbers or circumstances, the injured are believed to incorporate building employees who had been on website. A number of ambulances responded.
Precinct 1 Constable Alan Rosen’s workplace stated there aren’t any reported fatalities at this level, and a number of companies are helping on the scene.
Visitors and security impacts
Authorities are urging the general public to keep away from the downtown space close to the blast website.
- Use Fannin and La Department as alternate routes for southbound site visitors.
- Keep away from Texas Avenue, Caroline, San Jacinto and Austin Streets whereas crews work within the space.
What’s subsequent
Houston Fireplace Division crews stay on website assessing the constructing and making certain no additional hazards stay.
This can be a creating story. KHOU 11 has a crew on the bottom gathering extra particulars and can proceed to offer updates all through the day.
