Prator Lake home destroyed in fire

HOUSTON — A late morning fire on Wednesday destroyed a two-story family home on the west side of Prator Lake in Houston.

Houston Fire Department captain Christian Hartley said the department received a call to respond to a dwelling fire on Karami Lane south of Enchanted Circle around 11 a.m.

“We were on location about five minutes after we got the call,” Hartley said. “We didn’t get an all clear. Neighbors were calling places, looking around places. They were actually able to assist us.”

With neighbors’ help, all occupants of the home were accounted for. Two adults were at work and two children in school, Hartley said. He said by the time firefighters arrived, the approximate 80 by 60 foot, two-story dwelling was fully engulfed. Firefighters from Willow, West Lake and Central Mat-Su departments also responded to the scene.

“The owners had hand-built every part of the home over the past eight years,” Hartley said. “The owners were fortunate. They were insured and the adjusters were on the scene (around 5 p.m. that evening).

Firefighters remained on the scene for approximately six hours. Harley said about 40 firefighters were involved in getting the upper hand on the blaze. One engine, five tankers and support vehicles were also on-scene. One firefighter was taken to Mat-Su Regional Medical Center for possible smoke inhalation, assessed by medical staff and released.

Hartley said the family declined assistance from Red Cross and did have family nearby. However, a family dog died in the blaze and a family cat was missing as of Wednesday evening. The fire’s cause remains under investigation.