Subject:

Fires

  • Blogs

    May 23, 2012

    Photo: Dolce Vita Damaged by Fire

    Popular Montrose pizzeria Dolce Vita was damaged today by a fire that started at around 3:30 a.m. this morning. As reported by KPRC, the fire started in a Dumpster outside the rear of the restaurant and the flames soon spread to Dolce Vita itself. "Firefighters arrived on scene within four minutes ... More >>

  • Blogs

    April 18, 2012

    Late Nite Pie Owner Felicity Burris Also Charged with Arson: "The Business Need[s] To Be Gone Soon," She Told Manager

    Owner Felicity Burris also hit with charges.A second person has been charged with arson in connection with the blaze at Montrose mainstay Late Nite Pie. Felicity D. Burris, 35, has been charged, joining manager Raymond Pecher, who was charged with arson earlier this month. Burris is being held wit ... More >>

  • Blogs

    April 18, 2012

    Late Nite Pie Owner Also Charged with Arson

    The owner of Late Nite Pie, Felicity Burris, has also been charged with arson in the aftermath of a fire that claimed the Midtown pizza joint on February 8. According to our sister blog, Hair Balls, Burris allegedly instructed the manager -- Raymond Pecher -- to burn the restaurant down in the midst ... More >>

  • Blogs

    April 13, 2012

    The Fire That Claimed Late Nite Pie Was Arson

    When late-night Midtown pizza joint Late Nite Pie burned down in February, our commenters were quick to call foul. "Two words: Stanky Arson," said commenter LoWest, in a reference to the pizza place's infamous Stanky Whore pizza. Chimed in commenter Padams below: "Two words: Insurance Fraud. That ... More >>

  • Blogs

    April 13, 2012

    Raymond Pecher, Late Nite Pie Manager, Accused of Arson (Read the Criminal Complaint)

    The manager of Montrose's Late Nite Pie has been charged with setting the February blaze that destroyed the semi-legendary restaurant. Court documents say Raymond Pecher, 45, was seen leaving the building a little before 4 a.m. February 8, about ten minutes before smoke was first detected. A securi ... More >>

  • Blogs

    March 12, 2012

    William Webb: Baby in His Care Gets Wasted on Vodka; He Then Tries to Burn Accuser's Home

    Two things you should know about William Webb, if what police charge him with is true: Don't let him babysit your kid, and don't hire him to be your arsonist. Webb, 27, was arrested last week after a lengthy investigation. Waco police say, according to KWTX, that he was babysitting an infant in Dec ... More >>

  • Blogs

    February 20, 2012

    Surviving A Nightclub Fire: 7 Tips On How To Get Out Alive

    On Feb. 20, 2003 - nine years ago today - Great White performed at the Station nightclub in West Warwick, R.I. During opener "Desert Moon," spray-style pyrotechnic gerbs (a kind of firework that shoots a stream of sparks) went off. Couple that with highly flammable low-density polyurethane foam tha ... More >>

  • Calendar

    February 16, 2012

    Incendiary: The Willingham Case

    On Feb. 20, 2003 - nine years ago today - Great White performed at the Station nightclub in West Warwick, R.I. During opener "Desert Moon," spray-style pyrotechnic gerbs (a kind of firework that shoots a stream of sparks) went off. Couple that with highly flammable low-density polyurethane foam tha ... More >>

  • Blogs

    February 8, 2012

    Late Night Pie Burns Down Overnight

    A fire that started 45 minutes after Late Night Pie closed last night at 3 a.m. burned the pizza joint nearly to the ground. ABC-13 reported that the restaurant had suffered major damage as a result of the fire, which the Houston Fire Department battled for three hours. Public reaction to the news ... More >>

  • Blogs

    February 2, 2012

    David Keith Allen: Recently Remarried Former Pastor Accused of Killing Wife in House Fire

    The very best preachers are consummate showmen, able to sell you on the sincerity of their message with the utmost aplomb. 49-year-old David Keith Allen, former pastor at the New Life Church of Restoration just east of Gatesville, sounds like a hell of a performer. In the wee hours of one morning l ... More >>

  • Blogs

    November 10, 2011

    Dog's Best Friend Is an HFD Firefighter

    Photos by Barry Sigman​A two-alarm apartment-complex fire at Dashwood and Kirkwood was put out this morning, but not without a little doggie rescue work.

  • Blogs

    September 28, 2011

    James Edwin Durham: One-Man Lufkin Crime Wave Finally Brought Down -- Featuring Musical Mugshot Slideshow

    Check the musical slideshow of Durham's mugshots after the jump. It's been a rough year for James Edwin Durham. Since last November, the 39-year-old Lufkin man has allegedly burned his mother's house down while cooking meth, gotten shot in the ass, been charged with numerous felonies in several d ... More >>

  • Blogs

    September 14, 2011

    Houston Catches a Break with Bush Park Wildfire

    Photos by Barry Sigman​As noted below, the grassfire that broke out yesterday afternoon at George Bush Park has been all but contained. No evacuations were necessary. By 7 p.m. HFD had "50 pieces of fire equipment, more than 175 personnel, 4 dozers" working the fire, and they were ready with ... More >>

  • Blogs

    July 1, 2011

    Montrose's Creepiest Adult Bookstore Burns Down, Man Killed

    Google mapsA Montrose landmark of sorts, gone.​For years, the Talk of the Town adult bookstore on Richmond just west of Montrose has been a creepy oddity -- from the outside, it looked like a shabby, about-to-fall-down barn, its fading red paint, lack of windows and seeming claustrophobic cond ... More >>

  • Blogs

    May 16, 2011

    Idiots Try to Burn Mosque

    Fire didn't have time to spread.​The Texas chapter of CAIR (Council on American-Islamic Relations) is asking the FBI to investigate an attempted arson at a southwest side mosque as a hate crime. Media reports say at least three men in masks broke a window at the Madrasah Islamiah mosque near ... More >>

  • Blogs

    April 1, 2011

    Jessica Tata: Now She's Facing Murder Charges

    HCSOJessica Tata faces a longer sentence​The stakes have been raised against Jessica Tata, the owner of the daycare center where four children died in a fire. Previously charged with manslaughter, now Tata faces murder charges after court filings yesterday by the Harris County District Attorn ... More >>

  • Blogs

    March 22, 2011

    Jessica Tata Brought Into Custody

    Jessica Tata, 22, is in custody.​The long strange trip of the woman wanted in connection with the deaths of four children in a daycare fire in February is over as Jessica Tata was escorted to Harris County jail early Tuesday morning. Tata was the owner of Jackie's Child Care, located in a res ... More >>

  • Blogs

    March 4, 2011

    Jessica Tata: Feeling the Hate on Facebook

    Jessica Tata is not loved on Facebook​No local Houston figure in recent memory has become so hated so quickly as Jessica Tata, the fugitive owner of the day care where four children died in a fire last week. Believed to be in Nigeria, Tata, who lied about her juvenile record on her regist ... More >>

  • Blogs

    March 1, 2011

    Jessica Tata: DA Pat Lykos Says Don't Blame Me for Her Getting Away

    Jessica Tata is in Nigeria and is wanted​District Attorney Pat Lykos had an afternoon press conference today to rebut claims that her office did not act quickly enough in the case of Jessica Tata, who owned a daycare where four kids died in a fire, allowing Tata to escape to Nigeria. "Suggest ... More >>

  • Blogs

    February 17, 2011

    DPS Says It's ID'd "Persons of Interest" in Governor's Mansion Arson

    DPSThe car in question​The seemingly unbreakable case of the 2008 arson at the Governor's Mansion may be a step closer to being solved. Or maybe not. DPS has just announced they have "a person of interest" in the case and are offering a $50,000 reward for him. Also, they're blaming GOP-hatin ... More >>

  • Blogs

    January 18, 2011

    Colby Bartholemy: Fire in Our Pot Greenhouse? We'll Take Care of It, Firefighters

    Fire? We can take care of it, officer​Colby Bartholemy and his pals know how stressed firefighters can get, especially volunteer firefighters in a small town like San Leon, where any second they could be called to battle a raging inferno. So when Bartholemy and friend had a bit of an electric ... More >>

  • Blogs

    January 3, 2011

    Notable Heights House Burns To The Ground

    Illustration by Jean Steinhardt​A three-alarm fire destroyed a prominent house on Heights Boulevard early this morning, taking away one of the signature sights on the unique street. HFD doesn't know what caused the blaze. Heights historian Martin Hajovsky has tracked down the history of the ... More >>

  • Calendar

    December 2, 2010

    Inprint: Salman Rushdie

    Illustration by Jean Steinhardt​A three-alarm fire destroyed a prominent house on Heights Boulevard early this morning, taking away one of the signature sights on the unique street. HFD doesn't know what caused the blaze. Heights historian Martin Hajovsky has tracked down the history of the ... More >>

  • Music

    November 4, 2010

    Bad Religion

    Illustration by Jean Steinhardt​A three-alarm fire destroyed a prominent house on Heights Boulevard early this morning, taking away one of the signature sights on the unique street. HFD doesn't know what caused the blaze. Heights historian Martin Hajovsky has tracked down the history of the ... More >>

  • Blogs

    November 4, 2010

    Top Eight Notorious Concert Disasters

    Daniel R. Davidson via WikipediaThe Station fire in West Warwick, R.I., 40 seconds in​Recently, indie-rock juggernauts Arcade Fire were prevented from playing a gig in Portugal by NATO, which is having a summit on the same date. Arcade Fire offered to play a day ahead of time, but NATO decided ... More >>

  • Blogs

    October 31, 2010

    Massive Montrose Fire Burns Agora Cafe and Antiques Store

    Photos by Craig Hlavaty​Click here to see a slideshow of last night's blaze and this morning's aftermath. Last night in the midst of Halloween drinking festivities and the Montrose Costume Crawl, Agora Cafe and Antique Warehaus burned down. The two businesses, at the corner of Westheimer and ... More >>

  • Blogs

    September 17, 2010

    HFD Announces It Doesn't Know Much Yet About Election-Machines Fire

    HFD still trying to come up with answers​Wondering what's going on with the investigation into the warehouse fire on August 27 that destroyed more than $30 million of Harris County's voting equipment?Well, lucky for you the Houston Fire Department threw a little media soiree Thursday afternoon to ... More >>

  • Blogs

    July 6, 2010

    Albert Briede: Montrose Man Celebrates July 4th In His Own Peculiar Way

    Talk about bad hangovers....​A Montrose-area man is charged with arson after his 4th of July celebration ended with a homemade fireworks display consisting of his girlfriend's entire wardrobe.According to a complaint filed by HPD's arson squad, Albert Briede, 30, spent the holiday clubbing with hi ... More >>

  • Blogs

    June 22, 2010

    Twitter: Five More Types Of Tweets We Can Live Without, Thanks

    Don't get cute with the hashtags, plz?​Last month Craig Hlavaty, as part of his feature on the Twitterverse, examined the five most annoying things people can do on Twitter.It turns out there's five more. At least.Hlavaty ably limned the TMI posts, the what-I'm-eating tweets, the horror of Foursqu ... More >>

  • Blogs

    May 19, 2010

    Smallish YMCA Fire Brings Big HFD Response

    Photos by Chris VogelA lot of trucks responded for a smallish fire​As more than 30 fire trucks and 100 firefighters clogged up Downtown's Louisiana Street in front of the YMCA building this afternoon in response to a three-alarm fire, residents who had evacuated couldn't help but acknowledge the i ... More >>

  • Blogs

    May 11, 2010

    Smokey Fire Just East Of Downtown

    Photos by Katharine Shilcutt​Office-dwellers downtown might have thought the George R. Brown Convention Center was on fire this afternoon, as smoke from that area burgeoned up. Instead it was an abandoned commercial building on the other side of 59, at Polk and St. Emmanuel, that was the site of ... More >>

  • Blogs

    April 20, 2010

    Prison Guard's Wife Cries Crocodile Tears In Ashes Of Home

    ​The story shocked Beaumont and prison guards all over America: a federal correctional officer and his wife Monique, both Marine veterans fresh back from a tour in Iraq, were apparently burned out of the house they just bought less than a month before the April 10 blaze. The low-down scumbag ... More >>

  • Music

    April 15, 2010

    High on Fire

    ​The story shocked Beaumont and prison guards all over America: a federal correctional officer and his wife Monique, both Marine veterans fresh back from a tour in Iraq, were apparently burned out of the house they just bought less than a month before the April 10 blaze. The low-down scumbag ... More >>

  • Calendar

    April 8, 2010
  • Blogs

    February 15, 2010

    Bye-Bye, Mai's

    Photos by Craig Hlavaty​...and thanks for all the 2 a.m. pho. The popular Vietnamese restaurant, which had been a staple of Midtown dining since 1978, has been mostly destroyed by a fire that started in the rear of the second floor of the building at 3403 Milam early this morning. Although f ... More >>

  • Blogs

    January 15, 2010

    I'll Take People Who Don't Grasp The Concept For $500, Alex: East Texas Alleged Sex Felon Now Facing Arson Charge

    ​Sometimes in life you are fresh out of options before you even know it. That's what 19-year-old East Texan Randy Keith Hester found out recently when his cunning plan to help pay his attorney went dreadfully awry.Last fall, Hester was accused of having a consensual sexual relationship with a 14-y ... More >>

  • Blogs

    October 8, 2009

    Who's Setting The Heights On Fire?

    ​Houston's historic Heights neighborhood is under siege. In just two months, 12 suspicious fires at local residences have taken place, all within a couple of blocks of each other.The latest incident occurred in the dark hours of the morning on October 2. Around 2 a.m., firefighters responded a fi ... More >>

  • Blogs

    March 25, 2009

    Remains Of Burned-Out Church May Become A Park

    Now here's a good idea, and we mean that sincerely -- transforming the battered hulk of the burned-out, historic Bethel Baptist Church in Midtown into a park.KHOU reports that City Council has voted to buy the land what is left of the church, which suffered a massive fire in 2005. The hope is that a ... More >>

  • Blogs

    February 17, 2009

    Lone Star Saloon In Richmond To Be Demolished, Reborn

    The historic Lone Star Saloon in Richmond is about to be demolished.Heavily damaged by a fire in November, the remains of the 120-year-old building will be taken down by the end of the month, owner Bill Lundquist tells Fort Bend Now.The good news: He's planning to build a replacement. That's not rea ... More >>

  • Blogs

    October 22, 2008

    Fundraiser for the Koonce Family

    The historic Lone Star Saloon in Richmond is about to be demolished.Heavily damaged by a fire in November, the remains of the 120-year-old building will be taken down by the end of the month, owner Bill Lundquist tells Fort Bend Now.The good news: He's planning to build a replacement. That's not rea ... More >>

  • Blogs

    September 17, 2008

    After the Storm Comes the Fire

    The historic Lone Star Saloon in Richmond is about to be demolished.Heavily damaged by a fire in November, the remains of the 120-year-old building will be taken down by the end of the month, owner Bill Lundquist tells Fort Bend Now.The good news: He's planning to build a replacement. That's not rea ... More >>

  • Blogs

    September 14, 2007

    Fire at Austin City Limits

    The historic Lone Star Saloon in Richmond is about to be demolished.Heavily damaged by a fire in November, the remains of the 120-year-old building will be taken down by the end of the month, owner Bill Lundquist tells Fort Bend Now.The good news: He's planning to build a replacement. That's not rea ... More >>

  • Blogs

    December 11, 2006

    Who Burned the Lasagna?

    The historic Lone Star Saloon in Richmond is about to be demolished.Heavily damaged by a fire in November, the remains of the 120-year-old building will be taken down by the end of the month, owner Bill Lundquist tells Fort Bend Now.The good news: He's planning to build a replacement. That's not rea ... More >>

  • News

    February 16, 2006

    Letters to the Editor

    The historic Lone Star Saloon in Richmond is about to be demolished.Heavily damaged by a fire in November, the remains of the 120-year-old building will be taken down by the end of the month, owner Bill Lundquist tells Fort Bend Now.The good news: He's planning to build a replacement. That's not rea ... More >>

  • Music

    July 1, 2004

    Johnny Winter

    I'm a Bluesman (Virgin)

  • Dining

    October 18, 2001

    Road Warrior

    Roadster Grill

  • Music

    November 4, 1999

    Amplified

    Local Music News

  • News

    August 5, 1999

    Flames of Discontent

    Saying they are cops, arson investigators sue to overturn police pay raises

  • News

    June 4, 1998

    Poindexter's Barbecue

    A Houston manufacturing magnate sets West Texas on fire -- and now he's taking the heat

  • News

    December 26, 1996

    Blowing Smoke

    A Houston manufacturing magnate sets West Texas on fire -- and now he's taking the heat

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