8 Families Lose Homes In Willis Apartment Fire

WILLIS, TX — Fire investigators are trying to find the cause of a fire that severely damaged eight apartment units Tuesday evening. The fire was reported at about 6 p.m. in the 100 block of Will.

When firefighters arrived, they found heavy smoke and flames with eight apartment units on fire. Officials said eight families were displaced by the blaze and are receiving help from the Red Cross.

Jason Oliphant, chief of Montgomery County ESD 1, said the roof of one of the apartments partially collapsed as firefighters were beginning their initial attack of the blaze.

Oliphant said none of the residents were hurt, but that one firefighter had to be treated at the scene.

One of the eight displaced families was Jason Sweeten and his girlfriend, who moved into the complex on Monday from Fort Worth.

Sweeten said he and his girlfriend were waiting on a pizza delivery, when someone began banging on the door telling them to get out, according to the Montgomery County Police Reporter.

“I went to answer the door, and people were screaming, fire, fire fire,” Sweeten said. “My first reaction was getting my girlfriend out. I’m looking for keys, I’m looking for wallets and smoke was just billowing in there, man. It went so fast.”

The couple’s unit escaped being damaged by the blaze, and Sweeten calls that a miracle.

“We are gonna pray to Jesus and hope everything works out,” he said.

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