CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — "Probably like lava on the floor," is how 9-year-old Zachary Garza described the walk out of his upstairs apartment at the Churchill Square complex in Annaville, as a fire raged in the apartment below him.
The fire early Friday morning displaced eight families including Garza's. But it could have been much worse.
"We were mainly just thankful that everybody got out," complex owner Scott White said. "No people were harmed. No pets were harmed."
White says he's trying to find non-damaged, available apartments in his complex for some of the displaced families. The Red Cross is helping others, and others still will stay with relatives for now.
Investigators are still trying to figure out what caused the fire near the intersection of Leopard Street and Western Drive around 3 a.m. today. Despite the early hour, temperatures were relatively high, and there was plenty of humidity. But just like the residents, no firefighters were hurt. It's thanks in part to the Annaville Fire Department's utility truck that gives firefighters an air-conditioned place to cool off.
Garza and his family are among the fire victims who will stay with relatives for now. He has some advice for you if you ever wake up in the middle of a fire.
"Get out, run, and just stay away from the fire," he said.
