About 100 apartment units had fire or water damage.
HOUSTON — Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has asked for a federal disaster declaration to help people recover from a massive apartment fire that displaced hundreds of people in the Spring Branch area last month.
The three-alarm fire broke out on August 19 a little after 6 p.m. at a complex near Kempwood and Gessner. Dozens of firefighters battled the flames at the large apartment complex, which had 389 units. Officials said about 100 of those units sustained fire or water damage.
Abbott’s request, announced Tuesday, asks the U.S. Small Business Administration to make low-interest loans available through federal disaster programs. If approved, the loans would assist Texans whose homes or businesses were damaged.
“Texas stands with those affected by the Spring Branch neighborhood apartment complex fire that occurred last month,” Abbott said in a statement. “Today, I requested that the U.S. Small Business Administration issue a disaster declaration to provide federal assistance for those whose homes or businesses were damaged.”
Two firefighters were taken to the hospital — one with a shoulder injury and another with heat-related illness. No residents were hospitalized. The Red Cross responded to help affected families.
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