A father is fighting for his life and a mother is recovering in the hospital after a fire at a townhome in northwest Houston early Thursday. The fire broke out around 1:30 a.m. near Beasley Hills Lane and Beall Street in the Shady Acres area. The mother threw her two young daughters from a third-story window to escape, and neighbors caught the girls as they fell. The home was severely damaged, and the family's vehicle was also burned.
The townhome belongs to Casey and Efrain Gonzalez, who live there with their daughters, ages 4 and 5, according to the girls' aunt, Michaela Ritchie. Ritchie said Casey was awakened by an explosion involving the family's vehicle. Efrain reportedly tried to move the burning car out of the garage before going back inside to save his family.
Neighbor John Bauer said loud popping noises woke him. He said he saw an orange glow outside his door and ran toward the home. Bauer said he and another neighbor went around a vehicle burning in the street, heard voices from the backyard, and jumped fences to reach the family.