Baytown Firefighters Battle a Four Alarm Fire at 1200 Northwood
Baytown, Texas – Friday, June 5, 2020, the Baytown Fire Department received a call for a structure fire at 0337 hrs. The fire was located at 1200 Northwood Drive, Laguna Azul Apartments in a multi-story, multi-family residence. The caller advised she could not see flames but had dark smoke coming from the air vents.
Upon arrival fire department personnel observed dark smoke inside a second floor apartment. All pets and occupants of the building were able to evacuate the premises unharmed. Firefighters cleared all units prior to attacking the fire.
All Baytown Fire Department units were dispatched and utilized to control the fire. The firefighters had trouble extinguishing the blaze due to a void in the wall.
Mont Belvieu Fire Department and Cloverleaf Fire Departments were called to assist the City with the additional calls received as our firefighters worked to extinguish the Northwood fire. Mont Belvieu F.D. was stationed at Baytown Fire Department Station 4 on East Fayle Street and Cloverleaf F.D. backed into Station 1 on Garth Road. Crosby Fire Department was called to bring their cascade truck which allows firefighters to fill their air tanks on scene. Mont Belvieu Fire Department later responded to the scene to assist with firefighting efforts.
All 16 units of building 17 were damaged and 48 occupants are displaced. The apartment complex management advised fire department officials that they had units available and would relocate all of the affected residents. The Red Cross was also called in to assist the residents with basic essentials.
The preliminary fire investigation indicates the origin of the fire to be faulty wiring on a roof top A/C unit. The investigation continues at this time.
Three Baytown Fire Department personnel were treated on scene for heat exhaustion and one was transported to the emergency room due to heat. That firefighter transported is in stable condition and is expected to be discharged this afternoon.
Assistant Chief Dana Dalbey