A family of 10 people was displaced by a fast-moving fire that destroyed their Houston home Friday morning, leaving one man with serious injuries.
Houston Fire Chief Christian Hartley said fire crews were called to the West Birch Road residence at about 9:30 a.m. The family quickly got out, but the fire had consumed 75 percent of the home by the time firefighters arrived; the structure was fully engulfed in flames soon afterward.
"Once you start getting a fire of that size, it'll grow very fast — a fire in today's houses doubles in size every 30 seconds," Hartley said.
Medics took the injured man to a hospital, where staff expected to release him by Friday afternoon, Hartley said.
More than 30 firefighters from the West Lakes, Houston and Willow fire departments ultimately responded to the call, Hartley said.
The Red Cross was called to assist five adults and five children from the home. The cause of the blaze remains under investigation, according to Hartley.